​Q1 What is Elite Journey?

Elite Journey was founded in 2015 by Austin Deng and Dr Neil Cunningham and has offices in London, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Our aim is to provide quality, well-rounded education and cultural exchange experiences to students across the world and to help them reach their full potential.

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Our flagship programme, Camp China, is a cultural exchange that each year welcomes almost 1000 young people from around the world. Our vision is to build bridges between young people around the world. For our international students, that means the chance to discover China, explore its culture and shape their future. 

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Taking part in an Elite Journey programme offers far more than a trip abroad. Participants build confidence, leadership skills, cultural awareness and communication skills, and they grow in independence through real-world experience. These are exactly the qualities university admissions tutors and future employers look for, so an Elite Journey camp is a valuable addition to any CV or personal statement.

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Q2 What is Camp China? What will students do and what makes it different from a typical school trip or holiday tour?

Elite Journey's Camp China is a 14-day immersive learning experience across Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It is deliberately not a holiday or a coach tour. It is designed to reshape students' understanding of China, their place in the world, and what they are capable of achieving.

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Students will attend the prestigious Guangzhou Minxin School (a world-class bilingual school delivering the Hong Kong school curriculum) as full participants, not visitors. They are assigned to an Oxbridge-style college, live the college system, and work alongside Chinese students their own age. Core activities include:

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• Leading and mentoring younger Chinese students, organising activities that build genuine leadership skills

• Delivering a British Culture Workshop to Chinese peers

• Exploring Science & AI through debates, lessons, hands-on VR experiences, drone technology and cutting-edge laboratory sessions

• Learning Mandarin through immersive daily practice with real people, not textbooks

• Engaging with the community through street interview challenges, cultural taste-testing and exchanges with local families

• Visiting real production lines at CAS Space (rocket factory), XPENG (robot car manufacturer), DJI (drones manufacturer) and BYD (electric vehicle manufacturer)

• Visiting the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the HK Legislative Council and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy

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What makes it different: students are active participants and leaders, not spectators. They live and learn alongside Chinese peers, have exclusive access to real factories and research labs, and culminate in a Final Presentation to an international panel of Oxbridge mentors, Minxin teachers and Hong Kong University judges.

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Q3 Who is the programme designed for and what age group can take part?

The programme is designed for UK and international secondary school students aged 13–18 who are curious about China and willing to take an active part in a busy, collaborative programme. An interest in Mandarin and basic Mandarin vocabulary is desirable but not essential.

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Students do not need to see themselves as especially confident or outgoing before they apply. However, they should be prepared to participate, work with people from different backgrounds, try unfamiliar experiences and take increasing responsibility for themselves during the programme. The application process also considers qualities such as leadership potential, self-directed learning and suitability for an international cultural-exchange experience. 

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Q4 How is the programme balanced between academic, cultural, social and recreational activities?

The programme balances all four dimensions across a structured daily schedule (morning 8:30–11:30, afternoon 14:00–17:30, evening 18:30–20:30):

• Academic - Daily Mandarin lessons taught by Chinese teachers, classroom participation under the guidance of Oxbridge mentors, university application workshops, Science & AI lab sessions, and a Final Presentation project judged by an international panel

• Cultural - Chinese culture workshops (ancient to modern), Yunnan tea ceremony, calligraphy, Chinese chess (Xiangqi), dim sum etiquette, historical site visits (Thirteen Hongs Museum, Beijing Road Heritage Trail), and a British Culture Workshop delivered by the UK students

• Social - Oxbridge college system with competitive evening events, mixed UK–Chinese team activities, talent shows, and daily interaction with Chinese peers at Minxin School, and a Formal Dinner evening with all students and mentors at a 5* hotel at the end of the camp to celebrate

• Recreational - College Olympics, fashion show, scavenger hunt, water fight, Pearl River night cruise, Canton Tower visit, and a Grand Carnival Evening

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Q5 What will students gain from taking part in the programme?

• A standout university application: real global experience, certificate of completion and a reference letter for future University applications, as well as interview practice with Oxbridge mentors

• Confidence and independence: living and learning in a new country with 24/7 support 

• Global perspective: first-hand insight into China's language, culture, history and world-leading technology

• Future-ready skills: debate, critical thinking and cross-cultural communication skills

• Lifelong connections: friendships with UK and Chinese peers, enrolment into our alumni network on completion and lifelong networking and mentoring opportunities with our brilliant mentors

• Opportunities to study in China: high-performing students may receive further offers of scholarships to exchange to a Sixth Form or top university in China

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Q6 What language is the programme delivered in? What level of English or Chinese is required?

The programme is delivered primarily in English. All mentors are Oxford and Cambridge graduates, and the UK Student Director and programme staff communicate in English. No prior Mandarin proficiency is required. Mandarin is taught through immersive daily practice by Chinese teachers, and students learn through real conversations rather than textbook study. Chinese students at Minxin School are bilingual (the school delivers the Hong Kong curriculum), so interaction happens naturally in both languages. 

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Q7 Will students have opportunities to meet and interact with Chinese students?

Absolutely - interaction with Chinese students is at the core of the programme. Students are fully integrated into Minxin School's summer school, assigned to colleges alongside Chinese peers, and work in mixed UK–Chinese teams throughout. Specific opportunities include: mentoring younger Chinese students, joint classroom participation, collaborating on the Final Presentation, performing together in talent shows and the British Culture Workshop, sharing the Formal Dinner, and engaging in daily social and recreational activities together. Students from the UK will be expected to co-design and deliver a British Culture Workshop for our students from China. Students from the UK will also participate in Chinese Culture Workshops delivered by Student from China.

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Q8 What are the dates of the programme? What date am I expected to arrive? Do you have other dates available if I can't attend those dates?

The core camp session runs from 10 July to 24 July 2027 at the Minxin School campus in Guangzhou. A dedicated pre-arrival Welcome Day is arranged exclusively for all incoming international participants before the official start, including Guangzhou office tours, Canton Tower sightseeing, a Pearl River waterfront walk and a group welcome dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant. Exact arrival date guidance will be provided in the pre-departure materials.

Alternative sessions are available as supplementary options: a session at the Guangzhou Benedict campus, and August sessions in Hangzhou and Beijing. These alternative sessions require a minimum of 8 sign-ups to officially launch. Families unable to attend the core July dates should contact the programme team to discuss availability.

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Q9 What do students say about the programme?

In summer 2026, Elite Journey welcomed its first cohort of UK students. Here's how they rated their experience in our feedback survey:

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What we asked: Rate your overall everience (0-5 star)

What students told us: Every student rated it ★★★★★

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What we asked: Rate how safe and how well looked after you felt (0-5 star)

What students told us: Every student rated it ★★★★★

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What we asked: On a scale of 1-10, how, how likely are you to recommend the programme to a friend?

What students told us: 9.9 out of 10 on average

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What we asked: Would you do a programme like this again?

What students told us: Every student said yes

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Here's what some of them told us:

 

"I knew I'd learn more about Chinese culture, language, and people than I ever could in a classroom." — Ivo, The Petersfield School

 

"Seeing Guangzhou, particularly at night, was a mind-blowing experience. The excursions showed me things I have never seen before - cars being assembled in a huge factory complex, as well as things I thought I would never see, a real rocket in a rocket factory! The excursions were the perfect way to see parts of China that we never would have been able to get to without the help of Elite Journey and the team." — Hunter, The Petersfield School

 

"The sightseeing before the camp made me realise how advanced China is... In the Hong Kong University Science and Techniology lab, for the first time I felt science could cool. I think I want to study engineering now." — Henri, The Petersfield School

 

"On the last day, I was able to look back at day one to when I had first met my college. They were shy and quite quiet… getting to know each other, dissolving boundaries of culture and becoming friends." — Zac, The Petersfield School

 

"Prior to the camp I would often just stick with others' ideas… But you didn't have much choice in the camp but to be the one to step forward and have others grasp onto your ideas, and it really changed a lot for me." — Riya, St Leonards School

 

"I could confidently speak to everyone - from when I was on the stage to just speaking during lessons. I learnt that cultural exchange is the best way to learn about the world." — Chloe, The Petersfield School

 

"Meeting CY Leung was very inspiring. He talked about the importance of cross-cultural learning and how beneficial it would be for the future. After the China camp I have learned just how vital soft skills are...It was an incredible experience and I would love to come back as a mentor!" — Ginny, St Leonards School

 

Q10 What do parents say about the programme?

Here's how parents of our 2026 cohort rated the programme in our feedback survey:

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What we asked: Satisfaction with their child's experience

What parents told us: Every parent rated it ★★★★★

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What we asked: Satisfaction with our communication before the programme

What parents told us: Every parent rated it ★★★★★

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What we asked: Would they recommend the programme to another parent?

What parents told us: Every parent said "definitely"

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Here's what they told us:

 

"Ivo came home absolutely buzzing with enthusiasm about his experiences in and outside the classroom. His self-confidence has increased and he seems to have grown up in the time he was away! He would love to do the programme again." — Ivo's parent, The Petersfield School

 

"Zac had an exceptional adventure… Making new friends and being part of a wider cultural community where he contributes as well as receives. The care and attention given to them as a group was brilliant and they had so much fun!" — Zac's parent, The Petersfield School

 

"This was an incredible experience and one Hunter will remember forever. He came home full of enthusiasm about everything he had seen and experienced in China… The whole trip gave him a real sense of independence and confidence, and it was interesting and stimulating from start to finish.. He thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the summer school and we are so grateful that he had the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring and memorable experience. He can’t wait to return! ." — Hunter's parent, The Petersfield School

 

"I cannot recommend the programme highly enough. My daughter returned having had a unique lifetime experience. It helped her grow in confidence, allowed her to make a large number of new friends and shaped her future career aspirations." — Ginny's parent, St Leonards School

 

"Ben has built incredible confidence and gained invaluable life experience from the China camp. I would strongly recommend any interested child to take part." — Ben's parent, St Leonards School

 

"I would say definitely go for it. It's an absolutely amazing experience. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Be prepared to get stuck in and do things out of your comfort zone. Organisation was brilliant from start to finish. The welcome activities were amazing. It was great to see the students on video on updates to parents." — Henri's parent, The Petersfield School

 

"Safe and wonderful experience for young adults." — Riya's parent, St Leonards School

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