From Ancient Wonders to Modern Innovation: Inside CFI's 2026 Xi'an International Summer Camp

Every year, CFI Robotics NFP strives to create learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. This summer, a group of students traveled to Xi'an, China, for an unforgettable international educational experience that blended history, engineering, language, culture, and friendship into one remarkable journey.

As one of China's oldest cities and the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi'an offered students the opportunity to experience both the country's rich history and its rapid technological innovation. During their two weeks abroad, students lived on a university campus, attended daily classes, explored world-famous historical sites, visited cutting-edge manufacturing facilities, partnered with Chinese students, and immersed themselves in everyday life in China.

More than just a sightseeing trip, the program encouraged students to ask questions, explore new ideas, develop independence, and build meaningful connections across cultures.

Living Like University Students

Students quickly settled into life on the campus of Northwest University, where they experienced what daily life is like for university students in China. They stayed on campus, enjoyed meals in the university canteen, walked to classes each day, and explored the campus alongside international students from around the world and local students.

Throughout the program, two outstanding volunteers from Turkmenistan studying at the university's School of International Education worked closely with our students. Their encouragement helped students gain confidence using Chinese in everyday situations while providing a welcoming introduction to university life, thank you Allen and Mike!

Chinese language classes gave students opportunities to practice practical vocabulary and conversational skills that they immediately applied while ordering meals, shopping at local stores, and interacting with people throughout the city. Additional Business Chinese lessons introduced students to professional communication and business etiquette while demonstrating how language and culture work together in international settings.

Students also explored traditional Chinese culture through hands-on experiences in calligraphy, Wushu, tea culture, and traditional tea ceremonies. Rather than simply learning about these traditions, students actively participated, gaining a deeper appreciation for practices that have been passed down for centuries.

Walking Through Thousands of Years of History

Xi'an's remarkable history became one of the defining themes of the camp.

Students first learned about Xi'an's role as one of the world's great historical capitals and the starting point of the Silk Road before visiting many of the places they studied in class.

At the university museum, students viewed authentic Silk Road artifacts recovered through archaeological excavations, bringing history to life as they learned how trade connected China with civilizations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

The group also visited both the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, two of Xi'an's most important historical and religious landmarks. Students learned how the pagodas helped preserve Buddhist scriptures brought to China by the famous monk Xuanzang following his journey along the Silk Road. One memorable highlight was the opportunity to ring the ceremonial bell at the pagoda, participating in a tradition that has welcomed visitors for generations.

Additional visits included the Shaanxi Archaeological Museum, where students explored thousands of years of Chinese civilization through pottery, tools, artwork, and historical artifacts that demonstrated the steady evolution of technology and daily life.

No visit to Xi'an would be complete without seeing the world-famous Terracotta Warriors. Standing before thousands of life-sized soldiers guarding the tomb of China's first emperor gave students an unforgettable perspective on one of history's greatest archaeological discoveries. Students also visited the Bronze Chariots exhibition before meeting one of the farmers whose well-digging project led to the discovery of the Terracotta Warriors in 1974.

History came alive again during evening excursions as students explored Xi'an's Ancient City Wall, rode tandem bicycles along top, wandered bustling street markets, and experienced the spectacular performances at Tang Paradise. Traditional music, dance, historical reenactments, water shows, and fire performances brought the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty to life in an unforgettable setting.

Building International Friendships

One of the most memorable experiences of the entire trip was the school exchange with a local high school.

CFI students were partnered with some of the school's top students for a full day of cultural exchange. Chinese students helped our students practice conversational Chinese, while CFI students helped their partners strengthen their English. Together they participated in collaborative art projects, played table tennis, explored traditional Chinese crafts, and spent the day learning about each other's schools, hobbies, and daily lives.

Although they grew up on opposite sides of the world, students quickly discovered they had far more in common than they expected. Conversations about favorite music, sports, movies, and school life filled the day.

These friendships became one of the most meaningful outcomes of the program and demonstrated how curiosity, kindness, and shared experiences easily cross language and cultural barriers.

Engineering, Innovation, and Sustainability

As a STEM-focused organization, CFI also introduced students to China's rapidly growing technology and manufacturing industries.

One highlight was a visit to a large industrial park, where students toured a modern manufacturing facility and observed advanced robotic systems used to automate production and pallet stacking. CFI Robotics students immediately began analyzing the engineering behind the machines, discussing sensors, pneumatic systems, counterweight designs, and mechanical solutions while brainstorming ideas they could apply during future robotics competitions.

Students also received an extraordinary behind-the-scenes opportunity to visit a battery manufacturing facility. CFI was the only visiting group permitted to photograph the facility, and students were given access throughout the site. They were encouraged to explore the production areas, ask questions, and speak directly with engineers, researchers, technicians, and production staff about their work.

Students learned how large-scale residential battery systems help provide reliable electricity for communities where power from the electrical grid may only be available during certain hours of the day. The batteries are charged while electricity is available and then supply power to homes when the grid is unavailable. These systems are used throughout parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa to improve access to reliable electricity. Students also explored the company's work in electric vehicle batteries and charging infrastructure while learning how battery technology is helping shape the future of transportation and renewable energy.

The engineering experience continued with lessons on low-carbon agriculture, sustainability, carbon capture, and innovative materials such as giant reed, a rapidly growing plant that absorbs significant amounts of carbon while providing fibers that can replace petroleum-based synthetic materials. Students compared environmental initiatives in China and the United States while discussing how engineering can help solve global environmental challenges.

Discovering Everyday China

Some of the most memorable experiences happened outside the classroom.

Students explored vibrant night markets, practiced bargaining for souvenirs, sampled local foods, visited shopping malls, played arcade games, searched for Pokémon cards, and discovered that familiar restaurants such as Domino's Pizza and KFC have become part of modern Chinese city life.

Tea Town offered another unforgettable experience as students sampled numerous varieties of tea, learned about regional tea production, and selected hand-packed tea to bring home as souvenirs.

These evening adventures gave students the opportunity to make their own choices, build independence, and experience modern China through the eyes of local residents rather than simply as tourists.

More Than a Summer Camp

As the days passed, classmates became close friends. Card games, dorm room movie nights, evening walks across campus, shared meals, and countless conversations helped create a true camp community.

The group also celebrated four birthdays during the trip. Birthday cakes, songs sung in both English and Chinese, and shared celebrations quickly became a fun tradition that brought everyone together and created lasting memories.

As the program concluded, students returned home with far more than photographs and souvenirs. They returned with new friendships, greater confidence, a deeper appreciation for another culture, and firsthand experiences that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.

CFI Robotics NFP extends its sincere gratitude to Northwest University, our partner schools, university volunteers, faculty members, host organizations, teachers, chaperones, and the CFI Global Engagement Team for helping make this extraordinary international learning experience possible. Their dedication, guidance, and behind-the-scenes work created opportunities for students to explore, learn, and build friendships that will last for years to come.

From ancient wonders to modern innovation, Xi'an provided the perfect classroom, and our students embraced every opportunity to learn, explore, and grow.