Photos taken by Audrey Pegouske (Kalamazoo College), Student Correspondent for CET Beijing, Fall 2025
The Nuances of Modern China
There are some significant things I have come to realize you cannot miss while staying here, even without any added effort. Whether hidden beneath stoic willow trees or amongst the bustling Beijing traffic, some charming aspects are unavoidable, lingering in my memory, sealed by the frosty autumn winds.
Jialian School Exchange
CET students had the opportunity to visit a local high school with a curriculum centered around English proficiency and international relations. We were able to converse and connect with local students, introducing our own colleges back in the States while we shared a slice of their daily school life, complete with a cafeteria lunch and a short round of outdoor sports.
Together we walked the serene, stoic walkways of the 13 Ming Tombs, which held beautiful views of mountainous terrain and ancestral novelty. The relic museum added another layer of soft rumination.
Our school trip ended with a group scavenger hunt at a traditional marketplace, taking in the complex web of sights, smells, and tastes. Indulging in strawberry and sesame moon cakes for the upcoming Autumn Festival (中秋节) and bargaining for provincial fruits, the array of colors and welcoming dealers was on full display.
Historical Charm
Even caught in the rain, the Forbidden City blooms with rich history and cultural symbolism. Whether rain or shine, the vibrant colors viewable from within the walls can hardly be subdued, each stone tile echoing the steps of past emperors and the millions of people who constructed such a transformative ancient society.
China’s Futurism
With streamlined storefronts, international luxuries, and modern twists on comfort cuisines, each department store holds something innovative and exciting. Wukesong Plaza’s spacious library and flavorful sweet and savory bread selections are my go-to spot for a weekend cooldown with friends. Negotiating discounts should never be avoided, as the stuff of dreams can quickly become more affordable, tailored to fit your own budget.
No matter where I end up, my favorite way to feel the city hum is to take night walks near CNU’s campus. The wind ebbing and flowing around you helps ease the mind and soul amidst the whirlwind of assignments and daily stressors. Being present is an unavoidable phenomenon while traveling abroad, as even stoplights can give you that soothing pause of peace.
Walking Hand-in-Hand: The Charm of Chengdu
Somewhere amongst the willows, the soft whispers of wind envelop the billowing foliage and sleek cultural centers, as we get our first look at culture’s beginnings through a modern lens of development. Admiring the natural scenery interspersed with tea houses and Giant Panda memorabilia, CET’s trip to Chengdu savored every aspect of tradition and contemporary life in the up-and-coming Internet-famous city, whose pace of life attracts people of all ages to savor the novelty of mindful living.
Sanxingdui’s Ancient Relics (三星堆博物馆)
America’s history is nowhere near the span of China’s, making its cultural developments and rich expansion feel almost incomprehensible by comparison. Sanxingdui’s cultural luminance stems from its nearly 3,200-year-old relics, including stone masks with prominently large eyes, intricate carved pottery laced with gold, and the renowned “bronze tree” spanning 12.9 feet in height.
Sichuan’s Specialty Dishes (四川菜)
Known for its spicy food, Sichuan’s novelties do not hold back, being both richly indulgent and packed with heat. From hot pot to coconut milk sago pudding (椰奶西米百露), every dish carried its flavor and spices with elegance. With differing levels of málà, everyone can pace themselves venturing into the fascinating world of Sichuan cuisine.
Pandas and People’s Park (人民公园)
China’s most influential global ambassadors are cuter in person, and with their signature white tails and 6 fingers, they provide Chinese people with hope and resilience. Finding stability and peace is equally fundamental to the enjoyment of daily life, and that sense of community seeps from the stones of The People’s Park as children’s laughter leaps and bounds across watery channels, chasing the din of traditional song and performance.
Dufu’s Cottage (杜甫草堂)
A Tang Dynasty poet and revolutionary, his works are still cemented into the minds of the Chinese people, drawing strength from their recitation. We also learned to recite of his most notables before our visit, titled 一绝句 (Two Green Orioles Sing in the Green Willows).The scenery emanated his profound teachings, stilling the air into silence. The world had fallen soundly into sleep, hushed in lush green reverence.
Lacquerware Factory and the Art of the Tea House (茶馆）
At the top of my favorites list, seeing the process of lacquerware and its elegant craftsmanship was astonishing. Like the delicate nature of their production and illustrations, the art of being present reigned over the factory, as people young and old drank in the substance of rest and warm tea as they chatted leisurely. Bitter barley tea (苦荞茶) reigns with ease, soothing the mind with its nutty and fragrant aroma.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture is not the only aspect of Chinese medicine; different herbs and roots can be brewed into teas and added to soups to invigorate and ease the body’s tensions. Every part of the body holds importance, reflected in TCM’s extensive history and practice. Preserving nature can procure numerous benefits, as flora and fauna lie sealed in waiting, slowly ripening into elixirs of potent relief.