Rural root, urban route: The educational travel experience of impoverished adolescents

Abstract

Educational travel was once a privilege enjoyed by elite groups. However, within the context of Chinas poverty alleviation efforts, educational travel provided to rural adolescents has pioneered a new paradigm. Through field research, participant observation, and in-depth interviews, the study reveals how these rural adolescents engage with urban environments during their educational travels and the types of support they perceive to facilitate their engagement, including emotional, informational, appraisal, and tangible assistance. It further identifies the processes by which adolescents in supportive environments develop coping strategies and emotional growth, leading to positive behavioral tendencies and long-term development. The research expands the boundaries and scope of educational travel and offers a new human-centered approach to the practice of tourism-based poverty alleviation.