Torchbearer Relay Stop #1: Anhui Province

As the global camping community counts down to the 13th International Camping Congress (ICC2026) this November in Thaiwoo, China, the spirit of collaboration is already on the move. In the months leading up to this landmark event, past ICF President John Jorgenson is traveling across China to experience the ICC2026 Torchbearer Program firsthand. This special series of articles follows his journey from province to province, offering an insider’s look at how Chinese camp professionals are blending rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and innovative educational models to shape the future of camp education. Join us as we trace the steps of the Torchbearer Relay, celebrating the local leadership and unique youth experiences paving the way to the Congress.

The camp industry in China is emerging from a long history of tourism and study tours by families, groups, and students. Consequently, the term “camp education” is one that is easily understood in China. The term is also gaining popularity in other countries as we begin to articulate the learning opportunities that camp truly provides for children and young people beyond simple recreation.

One excellent example of this model took place in Anhui Province over the May holiday break. Traveling by bus from Hefei to Qianshan, we joined a group of children, parents, and counselors under the leadership of Super Torchbearer, Dingfan. An experienced camp director and study tour operator, Dingfan gathered a dedicated group of fellow professionals to organize and oversee a complex, interwoven program that beautifully combined ceremony, intangible cultural heritage experiences, history, and physical activity. Most of the program took place in and around the stunning Tianzhushan UNESCO Global Geopark.

Upon our arrival at a recreational campground for a two-night stay, the children quickly dispersed to set up their tents before gathering for supper. The following morning, the entire group headed to a historic site in the nearby town of Qianshan, where the formal Torchbearer Relay ceremony took place. Local officials were in attendance alongside colorful reenactors dressed in traditional Ming Dynasty attire. Following the requisite speeches and photos, the children set off on a cultural and historical scavenger hunt that involved artwork, exploration, and lively interaction with the historic reenactors along a nearby heritage street.

After lunch, we visited a massive camp education and study tour complex: the Qianshan Comprehensive Practice Education Camp, which is capable of hosting 1,000 children in residence at one time. The practical education portion of this complex spans five floors of activity classrooms, offering learning opportunities on everything from rocketry and robotics to flower arrangement and civil emergency awareness. The children settled into two of these rooms to try their hand at working with clay. This pottery experience was the perfect prelude to our next stop of the day—the historic Doumu Pottery Kilns. Doumu pottery boasts a history reaching back 6,000 years, and the site is famous for its Dragon Kiln, which stretches to an incredible length of 100 meters.

From this hands-on pottery experience, the camp moved to a more rural setting where local entrepreneurs hosted the children with treats and activities before their return to camp. After supper, the campers were treated to a traditional puppet show and live Chinese opera, with local townsfolk joining in to enjoy the performances. The themes of these shows beautifully introduced topics that would be central to the following day’s activities.

The next morning, the group packed up for a short journey to a small rural village at the foot of Tianzhushan, where the campers spent the day interacting with villagers and learning about everything from gardening and foraging to fireflies and sustainability. The village is currently being developed as a permanent site for camp activities, as well as a firefly research program.

Following lunch, the campers built traditional lanterns and parade items. They dressed in traditional costumes and learned firsthand some of the physical skills associated with Chinese opera performances.

After supper, the entire group gathered in the village square for a spectacular, torchlit Dragon Dance Parade through the streets, with the children proudly carrying their handmade parade items. The procession included a massive fireworks display before the Dragon entered a Ming Dynasty heritage building to symbolically scare away bad luck. As the parade made its way back to the central village square, the villagers surprised everyone by bringing out eight large Chinese drums, delivering a rousing performance as the campers marched the fiery dragon around the square one last time.

The next day marked the final leg of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Camp Experience” as we moved directly to the foot of Tianzhushan. Tianzhushan Mountain, known as the “Heavenly Pillar,” is a giant granite block rising almost 1,500 meters above the valley floor. The peak is approached by a cable lift from one of three directions, but reaching the very top is far from an easy trip. It requires navigating kilometers of glass walkways, twisting trails, and seemingly countless stone steps that lead through historic routes and past the beautiful Liandan (Alchemy) Lake. We enjoyed breathtaking views at every turn until the group finally stood on Tianchi Peak, looking across at the majestic Sky Pillar itself. The journey back down was just as spectacular—and thankfully, somewhat easier on the legs!

The Qianshan Intangible Cultural Heritage Camp Experience may not look like an ordinary camp by some traditional Western standards, but its potential is impossible to ignore. Its unique blend of culture, history, and nature—coupled with deep immersion and active education—provided a wonderful opportunity for both personal and community growth. Parents loved seeing their children so fully engaged, and the children returned home with a camp full of memories and new friendships that they will carry forward into their lives.

There is still so much more to see and do at camps in China!

Learn more about ICC 2026 and register here: https://icc2026china.org/