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Blog 9
Beijing Trip Final Day (2026.6.13)
Today was the last day of our amazing Beijing trip, full of relaxing moments and precious final memories!
We started our morning around 9 a.m. with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. After finishing our meal, we packed up all our luggage neatly and left it stored at the hotel front desk. Right in the hotel’s breakfast area, we had our final reflection for this entire trip. We reviewed every wonderful moment and experience we’ve had during the journey, and each of us also wrote a heartfelt letter to ourselves to record our growth and feelings from this trip.
For meals today, we arranged everything on our own with a total budget of 150 yuan for brunch and dinner. We had a casual lunch with our friends outside the hotel area. After lunch, we headed back to the hotel to check out and picked up our stored luggage.
Then we took a bus to visit the iconic Bird’s Nest, Water Cube and National Indoor Stadium. The sun was extremely bright and the weather was pretty hot while we wandered around the scenic spots. Luckily, Dala bought all of us ice cream to cool down! It was such a happy and sweet moment sharing cold ice cream together with everyone under the sun.
Before leaving the area, we stopped by a local souvenir shop recommended by our tour guide Willy. The shop offered great and affordable prices, so we seized this last shopping chance to pick up some lovely souvenirs to take home and keep as memories of Beijing.
Our next stop was Hongqiao Market, a huge shopping mall with five floors in total. The rooftop of the mall was absolutely stunning! We could get a panoramic view of the Temple of Heaven and the entire central axis of Beijing, a breathtaking sight we truly enjoyed. Every floor of the mall featured different kinds of goods, and the underground floor was full of various delicious food stalls. We had our dinner there with friends, surrounded by many foreign visitors shopping and dining around us. It felt so lively and interesting to experience such a diverse atmosphere.
After finishing our dinner and our last Beijing exploration, we took the bus to the airport. It was finally time to say goodbye to this incredible city.
Willy and Dala accompanied us all the way to the airport. After we finished the check-in process, we went through security and bid a sincere goodbye to Dala.
Now, we are finally on the plane heading back to the US. What a fulfilling and unforgettable final day of our Beijing trip! Every second of this journey is worthy of being cherished forever.
Blog 8
Last full day in Beijing — By Hayes Chinn (2026.6.12)
Today was an exciting day packed with sightseeing, history, and great food in Beijing.
We started the morning by taking a bus to the Beijing Zoo. It was one of the highlights of the day because we got to see so many amazing animals from around the world. The giant pandas were definitely a crowd favorite, but we also saw polar bears, rhinos, elephants, and many other fascinating animals. Walking around the zoo gave us the chance to learn about different species while enjoying the beautiful grounds.
After spending the morning at the zoo, we stopped for lunch and had some time to relax before continuing our adventure. Our next destination was the Temple of Confucius. The temple was peaceful and full of history. It was interesting to learn about Confucius and his influence on Chinese culture and education. The traditional architecture and quiet atmosphere made it a memorable stop.
Later in the afternoon, we took a bus to Tiananmen Square, one of the most famous landmarks in China. Standing in such a historic and important place was an incredible experience. The square’s enormous size and significance made it one of the most impressive sights of the day.
As evening approached, we boarded the bus once more and headed to dinner. We ended the day by enjoying authentic Beijing hotpot. Cooking fresh ingredients in the flavorful broth was both fun and delicious, making it the perfect way to finish a busy day of exploring. Overall, it was a great way to spend the last full day in Beijing.
Blog 7
Starting the Final Stretch by Claire Elizabeth Hale (2026.6.11)
Today we left our one night hotel stay in Shijiazhuang, before heading out to meet with our new friends at the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School. There, we were told we were going to participate in three classes- kungfu, playing erhu, and Chinese sewing. First, we watched a demonstration of Kungfu from a group of little boys, where we then got our try at a 10-step sequence. Secondly, we learned the history of the Chinese instrument, erhu, before practicing 6 notes to play two songs (Canoeing-Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). And lastly, after perfecting our erhu strums, we visited a sewing class where we made traditional Dragon Festival Zhongzi shaped Fragrant bags (香包).
Then we enjoyed the school’s hospitable efforts in a fantastic lunch. After full bellies, we had free time to explore the campus and enjoy activities with the other students, like basketball, volleyball, soccer, ai fitness, shuttlecocks, and more. Then we said 再见, and took the train back to Beijing (北京）.
After returning to the hotel, we partook in dinner at the hotel before heading out for one more night of exploring and shopping on the traditional Chinese street, before saying good night before our last full day in Beijing!
Blog 6
Travel to Shijiazhuang by Gabriel Dean (2026.6.10)
After an early wake-up, the group hopped on the bus and headed to the train station. We said goodbye to Waldner, our local tour guide, and boarded the high-speed train to Shijiazhuang.
The train ride lasted about five hours, with a few stops along the way that allowed everyone to stretch their legs. We also got a taste of home by having McDonald’s for lunch before arriving in Shijiazhuang.
Once in Shijiazhuang, we visited the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School. Students from the school gave us a tour of the campus, and we had the opportunity to play ping pong against some of the younger students. We wrapped up our visit by exchanging gifts between the two schools before heading to dinner and then to the hotel to prepare for the next day.
Blog 5
Fourth day, China Trip blog by Elsa S. (2026.7.6)
This morning the group enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel, then packed up their stuff and headed out to visit 天坛(tiantan), the Temple of Heaven. Students learned about the Temple of Heaven and its history.
Then the group got some free time to take some fun photos with each other and Chinese tourists before taking a nice walk to lunch. Students enjoyed some tasty Chinese cuisine, then headed for the bus to the train station. There, the group got to choose some fun snacks for the 6-hour train ride before embarking from the station for Xi’an. On the train, students read, watched shows/movies, played games, chatted, and ate a packed dinner, enjoying the scenery around them.
After arriving in Xi’an, the group got on a bus that took them through Xi’an and to the hotel, giving them a nice 30-minute drive to look around the city before a big day tomorrow. The students arrived at the hotel, went to their rooms, and slept well after a big travel day!
Blog 4
Third day in Beijing, blog by Adam Schmucker (2026.6.6)
Today, the group got together at 10:00 a.m. First, we went to the post office! Then we took time to photograph the Drum and Bell Towers, which date back to the Yuan Dynasty. Afterwards, we explored Beijing’s world-famous hutongs, which are an important part of Chinese culture.
At 11:00 a.m., we attended a paper cutting workshop. While at the workshop, we had lunch together. Following lunch, we departed for the Forbidden City by bus. Upon arriving at the Forbidden City, we explored the area and took group photos.
We left the Forbidden City at 5:00 p.m. and traveled by bus to dinner, where we ate at a traditional restaurant. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel by bus, which concluded the day.
Blog 3
Second day in Beijing, blog by Tully Johnson (2026.6.5)
Breakfast at the hotel, then straight to the Great Wall. We hit the Mutianyu section, which is one of the best-preserved stretches. From up there, you could spot giant white characters carved into the mountainside reading “忠于毛主席” (“Loyal to Chairman Mao”), China’s own Hollywood sign moment. Brutally hot, absolutely worth it.
Lunch, then a bus ride to the Summer Palace, during which the boys made sure to use their water bottles. The Summer Palace was stunning. Glittering Kunming Lake takes up three-quarters of the park, overlooked by Longevity Hill and the Tower of Buddhist Incense. Wally filled us in on Empress Dowager Cixi, the infamous “Dragon Lady” who basically ran imperial China from this very palace.
We grabbed photos of the lake and the architecture, then headed to dinner. Finally, back to the hotel after another eventful day.
Blog 2
First day in Beijing, blog by Kaylee W (2026.6.4)
Today, we arrived in Beijing! As soon as we got off the plane and collected all our luggage, we headed to the hotel on a bus. While we were riding the bus, we saw a lot of Chinese architecture and buildings. We got to the hotel and rested for a bit before walking to lunch. At lunch, there were a variety of dishes like bean poles, kung pao chicken, an assortment of vegetables, and more! We all ate our lunch and decided to look around the shops that were nearby. The shops I went to were Miniso, a local jewelry shop, and a shop called hahahaha.
After lunch, we headed back to the hotel again, where we got ready for dinner. We took a bus to dinner, where there were birthday celebrations and cake set up for Sarah Beth :)! Our dinner included chicken, white rice, potato, pork, shrimp, and more! After dinner we headed home and rested for the next day.
Overall it was a busy, but fun day in Beijing!
Blog 1
We picked up teachers and students at Beijing Capital International Airport at 10 a.m. After arrival, everyone got on the bus and headed straight to our hotel to complete check-in procedures.
We rested for around one hour, freshened up with showers and changed clothes before heading out for authentic Chinese lunch. The local dishes tasted fantastic.
On the way walking back to the hotel , we visited Nanluoguxiang for casual window-shopping. Wandering around the old alley was really fun and full of local vibes. We returned to the hotel for another one-hour break afterwards.
Later, we held a one-hour orientation meeting at the hotel, followed by writing personal postcards.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner in the evening and took the bus back to the hotel after the meal. With a full day wrapped up, we settled in for a good rest at the hotel.