Walk Among the Classics 2026
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July 12 – August 8, 2026
Historic Village Residence & Nanling Mountains, Southern China
Organized by Boya College and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, Sun Yat-sen University (China)
International Partner: St. John’s College (United States)
Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Macao
Language of Instruction: English
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Program Overview
Following the successful launch of the program in 2025, Walk Among the Classics returns in 2026 with an expanded vision.
The 2025 program brought together undergraduate students from Boya College, Sun Yat-sen University, St. John’s College (USA), and others from France, Japan, and Brazil. Students engaged in rigorous seminar discussions, cross-cultural dialogue, community engagement, and collaborative creative work. The intellectual atmosphere and international exchange made the program a distinctive Great Books experience.
In 2026, we continue to build an international platform for serious engagement with classical texts across civilizations.
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Academic Structure
Week 1
Chinese Classics: Virtue and Moral Order
Close reading of selections from The Analects and Mencius.
Week 2
Western Classics: Justice and the Polis
Led by faculty from St. John’s College (USA).
Selected readings from Plato’s Republic or Aristotle’s works.
Week 3
Comparative Dialogue: East and West in Conversation
Students bring Chinese and Western texts into direct dialogue.
The week concludes with a public student forum.
Week 4
Field Study in the Nanling Mountain
The final week takes students into the Nanling mountain region for integrative reflection on nature and civilization, the Dao and the cosmos, landscape and moral imagination. Selected classical texts are revisited in situ, allowing philosophical reflection to unfold within the natural environment.
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Financial Information
Students are responsible for:
1. Round-trip international airfare
2. Visa application fees
3. Personal insurance and others personal expenses
The program covers:
1. Accommodation and meals during the first three weeks
2. All program activities
3. Travel and accommodation for the Nanling field study (Week 4)
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Who Should Apply
We welcome undergraduate students who:
- Are interested in humanities and China
- Enjoy discussion-based learning
- Are open to cross-cultural exchange
- Are willing to engage in both intellectual and community life
No prior background in Chinese or Western philosophy is required.
If you are interested in joining us，please scan the QR code below to download the application form, then send the form : ias.programme@um.edu.mo
The Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Macau
