Learning tourism makes the grade

History and culture learning at the sites of ancient architecture, the making of the Great Wall's bricks and intangible cultural heritage experiences at institutes of higher learning have been highlights in Beijing's summer tourism market.

At Beijing Foreign Studies University, dozens of students from the Middle School of Taishan College and the Taishan Bilingual School recently studied diplomatic knowledge.

"It has made the concepts from books easier and better understood," said Ma Shuang, who is in charge of the learning tour.

At the intangible cultural heritage exhibition and experience center in Beijing's Fengtai district, Sui Tao, an inheritor of the ancient calligraphy and painting mounting and restoration craft, has also received many learning tourists.

"Over the years, we have continuously received invitations from schools to bring intangible cultural heritage to campuses. Now, many children are learning to write with brushes and they show great interest when you explain the art of calligraphy and painting mounting and restoration to them," Sui said.

The capital city has also seen many learning tour groups explore cloisonne production, Peking Opera and jasmine tea preparation, according to multiple learning tour organizers.

This allows children to not only feel the grandeur of the capital but also experience the unique charm of Beijing culture, they said.

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism said it will continue to support the integration of intangible cultural heritage with tourism, aiming to meet the growing cultural needs and confidence of the people