Bard High School Early College DC Students Participate in Cultural Program in China
The trip gave students the opportunity to experience the culture, history, and daily life of one of China’s most ethnically diverse provinces.
From April 26 to May 12, Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) DC students participated in a 13-day cultural immersion program in Yunnan, China. The trip gave students the opportunity to experience the culture, history, and daily life of one of China’s most ethnically diverse provinces. During the trip, students visited Pu’er County, where they learned how tea and coffee are produced from start to finish. At the famous Stone Forest, students explored unique geological formations while learning about Yunnan’s rich ethnic cultures and history.
BHSEC DC students also participated in hands-on cultural activities at Yunnan Normal University, including lion dance, paper cutting, fan making, and learning Chinese songs. Throughout the journey, students gained confidence navigating local life independently, from ordering food to using rideshare services. “For many students, this was their first experience traveling abroad and flying independently,” said Yuan Gao, a faculty member in Chinese Language and Culture at BHSEC DC and one of the organizers of the program. “The trip was a meaningful opportunity for students to grow academically, culturally, and personally while taking important steps toward becoming global citizens.”
Bard Early College is a multi-campus network with nine degree-granting campuses established to provide adolescents in American public school systems with the chance to go farther and faster than the status quo allows.
Post Date: 06-02-2026
BHSEC DC students also participated in hands-on cultural activities at Yunnan Normal University, including lion dance, paper cutting, fan making, and learning Chinese songs. Throughout the journey, students gained confidence navigating local life independently, from ordering food to using rideshare services. “For many students, this was their first experience traveling abroad and flying independently,” said Yuan Gao, a faculty member in Chinese Language and Culture at BHSEC DC and one of the organizers of the program. “The trip was a meaningful opportunity for students to grow academically, culturally, and personally while taking important steps toward becoming global citizens.”
Bard Early College is a multi-campus network with nine degree-granting campuses established to provide adolescents in American public school systems with the chance to go farther and faster than the status quo allows.
Post Date: 06-02-2026