Written by Paola Sigüenza (George Washington University), Student Correspondent for CET Shanghai, Fall 2025
One of the best parts of CET Shanghai has been the Traveling Seminar. Every semester, CET plans a cohort-wide trip to a place outside Shanghai, and this time, we explored Guizhou Province, visiting four rural localities in just one week. The best part? Everything was perfectly organized by our CET directors and local partner organizations. All we students had to do was learn, explore, and bring our curiosity (and cameras!). Instead of a day-by-day recap–because that would be endless–here are some of my favorite highlights from an unforgettable week of side quests in rural localities of Guizhou.
Buyei Stick Fighting & Five-Color Rice
Our first stop was Biket Village in Zhenfeng County, where we learned about the intangible cultural heritage of Buyei stick fighting. We began with an apprenticeship ceremony thanking our instructor before he demonstrated 4-5 artistic fighting forms. I’ve never felt cooler in my life than when I finally mastered one full set of movements—definitely harder than it looks in the movies!
Afterward, we tried local delicacies, including my personal favorite among all the trips’ foods: Five-colored glutinous rice served with multiple side dishes. As a rice lover, the subtle spices and natural flavors were pure heaven. Later that day, we headed to the Sancha River outdoor base for a mountain bike ride. Imagine 30 CET students and teachers biking through the mountains, surrounded by rolling green hills and fresh air, it was absolutely breathtaking and such a bonding moment for all the cohort!
Huajiang Canyon Bridge & River Adventures
The next day, we witnessed one of China’s most impressive modern engineering feats: the Huajiang Canyon Bridge, the tallest bridge in the world. We did not only saw it from afar, but were also allowed to pass through it, which was slightly nerve-wracking, but the view of the two mountains separating the river was worth every second.
Our bus then took us 625 meters down to the river, where we enjoyed a peaceful boat tour through the canyon. It was one of those surreal travel moments when you stop and think, “How did I end up here?” After the boat ride came a 3-kilometer paddleboarding adventure! I noticed that CET was super flexible with everyone’s physical activity preferences: some of us paddled, some stayed on the boat, and a few brave friends even swam part of the route. The mix of calm scenery and laughter made it unforgettable.
Lijiaochong Scenic Area & A “Harry Potter”-Style Feast
Our next destination was Lijiaochong scenic area, home to the beautiful Cuigui waterfalls. This was the first time we split into small groups to explore the different options that the park offered: cable cars, mesmerizing caves, more chill boat rides, and buses passing through dense forests. Since Guizhou doesn’t receive many international tourists, many locals excitedly asked for photos with us. It was such a nice opportunity to chat with people and know other perspectives of Guizhou.
That same evening, we attended a Miao long-table feast featuring sour soup beef and stir-fried dishes (the table setting reminded me so much of the Hogwarts house table). The meal began with a welcoming ceremony where women in traditional red dresses sang, offered bowls of water, and painted pink circles on our cheeks to symbolize joy. The long tables encouraged everyone to play games together, like Telephone and a counting Chinese game. It was one of the most wholesome, heartwarming nights with the cohort of my entire study abroad experience.
Dressing Up with the Miao: Catwalk & Celebration
To wrap up the trip, CET students were invited to participate in a local festival in Guiyang: complete with a catwalk and live performances! We wore traditional Miao ethnic clothing and had our makeup done by professional artists (think “douyin filter”, but real life). Walking onstage alongside kids, grandparents, other students, models, and musicians felt surreal and beautiful.
Some of us were even invited last-minute to join a dance holding hands with a group of local aunties! At the end, a singer joined the stage and made us all dance to the remixes of traditional Chinese music and techno that he had made. It was such a cool moment dancing under the rain with my friends, all dressed up in ethnic clothes, singing out loud songs we did not really understand.
This week-long journey showed me a side of China I never could have discovered on my own. In Guizhou, I witnessed how modern infrastructure meets ancient tradition, and how ethnic minority cultures continue to thrive. From the breathtaking landscapes to the warmth of local communities, every moment left a mark on me. The experience was so unique that CCTV, China’s most famous news channel, interviewed us several times, and the Guizhou provincial government welcomed us as honorary guests. If you are a student debating whether to attend CET Shanghai, please do so, this has been a real once-in-a-lifetime-experience that I will tell my grandkids about. 我爱贵州！