This isn’t just about vacations—it’s a window into how global education trends and diplomatic relations shape family choices. If these trips fade, it could ripple through U.S. universities, tourism, and cultural exchange, not to mention the aspirations of countless Chinese students.

For two decades, it was popular for many Chinese families to send their children on “study tours” overseas – most often to the United States – during the summer.
The programmes generally involved summer camps jointly organised by American universities and language institutions, as well as visits to colleges, museums and tourist attractions.
In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 1.3 million Chinese students spent part of their summer holidays studying overseas, according to a report by...

For years, Chinese families have embraced the tradition of sending their kids on summer "study tours" to the U.S., blending education with cultural experiences—think campus visits, language camps, and sightseeing. But now, post-pandemic shifts and geopolitical tensions are casting doubt on whether this rite of passage will continue.

Is this the end of summer US study trips for Chinese children?

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