When a Trip Becomes a Classroom: Our Taiwan Partnership with Renren Chuangxue

When is a family trip more than just a trip?

It’s a question we ask constantly at Small World Explorers. The answer, for us, is when it stops being about just seeing a place and starts being about connecting with it—when it sends us home with stories that change how our children see the world.

That’s why I’m so thrilled to share our new partnership with 人人創學 (Renren Chuangxue), a remarkable educator-led team in Taiwan.

It’s Not Really a Travel Agency

What drew me to Renren Chuangxue is their belief that travel is a journey of "learning and connection." Their team isn’t made of tour guides; it’s composed of educators—university professors, local teachers, and cultural experts who have spent years turning Taiwan into a living classroom.

They don’t begin with hotel lists or routes on a map. They begin by asking:

• What can a child learn here?

• What story does this land hold?

• Which local artisan, farmer, or historian can bring that story to life for a family?

This mindset transforms an ordinary vacation into an immersive experience of discovery. Renren Chuangxue has designed learning adventures across more than half of Taiwan’s counties, transforming bustling markets, mountain trails, fishing villages, and island coasts into vibrant classrooms. It’s exactly what we at Small World Explorers mean by "cultural education wrapped in adventure."

Why Penghu, and Why Now

We are launching this partnership with their signature family trip to the Penghu archipelago, taking place June 25–29, 2026.

If you’ve only ever experienced Taipei, Penghu feels like another world. This isn’t just a beach vacation—it’s a deep dive into island life guided by people who live it every day.

Your family will pull on bright green frog suits to explore the tidal zones, searching for the ancient, living-fossil horseshoe crab. You and your kiddos will learn the traditional "Baodun" fishing method, using your hands to feel for life among the stone weirs, and walk through ancient villages built from coral and courage.

It’s a chance for our children to understand how life is shaped by the ocean—and for us, as parents, to see a more authentic side of Taiwan together. It’s a chance for overseas kids to connect to their Mandarin learning in a deeply meaningful way.

Learning to Ask New Questions

Last year, watching children absorb Mandarin in Taiwan reminded me that language is more than words. In the same way, an island trip can be more than sightseeing. Adventure itself becomes a family language—a shorthand for curiosity, discovery, and shared memory.

This is what “learning on location” truly means: a child spotting a sea star in a tidal pool, listening to a village elder tell stories of the past, or tasting food pulled fresh from the sea. These are the raw materials of childhood memory—the moments that spark empathy, imagination, and connection.

Who This Trip Is Perfect For

This program is ideal for families who want to know Taiwan on a deeper level. It’s designed for bilingual or Mandarin-speaking kids who can thrive in an immersive environment and for parents who love the idea of hands-on learning but don’t have time to plan a multi-island, locally guided, kid-safe adventure from scratch.

It’s also perfect for our Small World Explorers community—for families who are ready to experience a different kind of journey, one rooted in culture, nature, and connection.

Want to See What It Looks Like?

To understand what makes this trip so special, you can explore two great resources:

1. Watch the introduction video from Renren Chuangxue .

2. Read this detailed field report about the Penghu experience from Mama & Baby Learn Mandarin on Taiwan Camp: New and Unique Family Experiences in Penghu

More details about our five-day Penghu family learning journey will be announced soon. If you’d like to join the early interest list for Penghu 2026, sign up for our mailing list.

We’re grateful to partner with Renren Chuangxue, a team that understands that the best education doesn’t happen at a desk. It happens in the world—with our hands in the sand, our feet in the water, and our hearts open to new stories.

Because in the end, it isn’t about the island—it’s about the connection we build with it, together.

By: Yawen Hsu, Co-founder, Small World Explorers