History trips to China
History trips to China
A journey through thousands of years of change
China offers students a unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s oldest civilizations alongside one of its most influential modern powers. From imperial palaces to revolutionary landmarks, this trip brings history, politics and culture together.
Walk the Great Wall, stand in Tiananmen Square, and explore the legacy of Mao Zedong. Your students will gain a deeper understanding of how China’s past continues to shape its present, and its future.
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Meet our China experts
It’s the people behind the scenes who make our trips truly special. Our Tour Designers know China inside-out and are ready to listen, share ideas, and offer tailored, experience-led advice to make your trip a huge success.
Ready to start planning? Call us or arrange a video appointment online.
Charlotte
“My favourite itinerary”
Here’s a little inspiration to get you started…
Jamie
“My recommended things to see and do”
China is packed with points of interest, but here are a few standout experiences I always recommend for History groups:
Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum (Beijing)
The Mausoleum memorialises the founder and first Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, who passed away at the age of 82 in 1976.
Forbidden City (Beijing)
The Forbidden City was the former imperial palace, which was the home to twenty four Chinese emperors over 491 years between 1420 and 1911.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built over more than two thousand years.
Ming Tombs (Beijing)
The Ming Tombs are the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty.
Museums of Chinese Revolution & History (Beijing)
The Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution share a single building complex by Tiananmen Square.
Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum (Xi’an)
This is the most significant archeological excavation in the 20th century, and work is still ongoing.
Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
Tiananmen Square was the original gate to the Imperial Palace, and has been burnt down and rebuilt many times between 1417 and 1651.
Wild Goose Pagoda (Xi’an)
The 7-storey high Great Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652AD. It is a striking elegant building and is the symbol of Xian.
Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum (Beijing)
The Mausoleum memorialises the founder and first Chairman of the People’s Republic of China, who passed away at the age of 82 in 1976. It provides people with a place to show their respects to Chairman Mao. His body lies in state on a bed covered in a crystalline sarcophagus and surrounded by flowers. During the day his coffin is raised by an elevator and is on display for all to see, and at night he is lowered back into his earthquake proof chamber beneath Tiananmen Square.
Forbidden City (Beijing)
The Forbidden City was the former imperial palace, which was the home to twenty four Chinese emperors over 491 years between 1420 and 1911. The Forbidden City is now known as the Palace Museum and is open to Beijing’s visitors. Wear comfortable walking shoes as the palace is 960 meters long and 750 meters wide.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built over more than two thousand years. Construction on the first section began between the 7th and 6th century BC, and the last work on the wall was done between the 14th and 17th centuries. A visit to the Great Wall of China offers students the chance to walk along one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, taking in breathtaking views while learning about its construction, purpose and the role it played in protecting ancient Chinese states over centuries.
Ming Tombs (Beijing)
The Ming Tombs are the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). They have been perfectly preserved, as has the necropolis of each of the emperors. Because of its long history, palatial and integrated architecture, the site has a high cultural and historic value. The layout and arrangement of all 13 mausoleums are very similar but vary in size and complexity of their structures.
Museums of Chinese Revolution & History (Beijing)
The Museum of Chinese History and the Museum of Chinese Revolution share a single building complex, which runs more than 300 meters north and south along the eastern side of Tiananmen Square. The four-story main building with its two symmetrical wings was built in 1959 as part of the project to build 10 monumental buildings in Beijing.
Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum (Xi’an)
This is the most significant archeological excavation in the 20th century, and work is still ongoing. It was first discovered when a group of peasants uncovered some pottery while digging for a well in 1974. Archeologists were alerted and soon established they were from the Qin dynasty (211-206 BC). Altogether approx 8,000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons have been unearthed to their former grandeur, it was listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.
Tiananmen Square (Beijing)
Tiananmen Square was the original gate to the Imperial Palace, and has been burnt down and rebuilt many times between 1417 and 1651. Today, it is remembered as the place where Mao Tse-Tung declared the foundation of the Peoples Republic of China (1949) and more recently was the scene of the 1989 Massacre.
Wild Goose Pagoda (Xi’an)
The 7-storey high Great Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652AD. It is a striking elegant building and is the symbol of Xian. The famous Buddhist monk Xuan Zang returned from a 17 year pilgrimage and the square pagoda was built to house the 600 or so Buddhist texts that he had collected in India.
Harry
“My top tips”
Here’s how to make the most out of your History trip to China.
Think like a student
Balance educational value with fun – a good mix keeps students interested rather than overtired or switched off.
Bring in the experts
Local guides or subject specialists add colour, context and confidence.
Stay close to the action
Central accommodation means less travelling and more time actually enjoying the trip.
Charlotte
The best places to stay
This is just one example of what’s available. We’ll guide you through the best hotel choices to suit your group and tour plans.
Beijing Wuhuan Hotel
Set within Beijing’s central business district, Beijing WuHuan Hotel offers large‑scale accommodation with good access to key transport links, including the railway station and major city routes
- En‑suite rooms
- Central business district
- Close to main railway station
- Four star, luxury hotel
- Meeting and group spaces
The most popular questions, answered
China offers students a rare chance to explore one of the world’s oldest civilisations while examining the forces that shaped the rise of the People’s Republic. Standing in the places where dynastic rule ended and Communist leadership emerged helps students connect political theory with the cultural and historical context behind it.
Students studying Mao’s leadership, the formation of the PRC, Communist ideology, and China’s global role will find rich, first‑hand insight throughout the trip. Visits to landmarks such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Great Wall help anchor complex political narratives in real, memorable settings.
Your itinerary is shaped around the visits that best support your learning goals, whether that’s exploring imperial history in Beijing, examining revolutionary sites or meeting local students in a Chinese high school. With an experienced local guide throughout, every day is designed to deepen understanding while keeping the pace manageable for your group.
From early planning to your final day in China, you’ll have steady guidance from our team. We help with risk assessments, timings, visit coordination and practical advice, and our 24/7 support while you’re away ensures you always feel backed up and able to focus on your students.
We arrange trusted, comfortable accommodation in Beijing or Shanghai, chosen for safety, convenience and easy access to key historical and political sites. Everything is organised with teachers in mind, keeping logistics simple and evenings calm.
Your trip can include return air travel, full‑board accommodation, insurance, a local expert guide and a bespoke itinerary shaped around your curriculum needs. Teachers also benefit from generous free place ratios, an online trip organiser and a dedicated travel app to keep everything running smoothly.
What people say
“Everything was great during the planning and booking of the trip. The excursions are brilliant.”
The Sweyne Park School
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