Written by Paola Sigüenza (George Washington University), Student Correspondent for CET Shanghai, Fall 2025
When looking at our first-week CET Orientation schedule, Saturday immediately stood out. Instead of meetings like Intro to Academics or Stranger Danger, the schedule simply read: Day Trip Requirement. At that point, I had barely decorated my room and suddenly I was expected to explore an entirely new city outside of Shanghai.
I felt nervous because what if my bank card didn’t work? What if I got lost? Luckily, I wasn’t alone. I had a group of six amazing people with me (fellow CET students and our local Chinese roommates) who turned the planning and execution of this adventure into an unforgettable experience. In this post, I’ll share my highlights from our Orientation trip to Yangzhou (扬州市).
Getting There
Each group of students could choose their own destination, and we decided to venture farther out so we could experience China’s famous high-speed rail. With the help of our local roommates, who taught us how to book tickets, what to pack, and even some useful phrases, everything went smoothly from the start.
I pictured my hair blowing wildly from the train’s speed, but in reality, you could hardly feel the motion! The seats were spacious and comfortable, and in less than two hours we had traveled 300 kilometers from Shanghai to Yangzhou.
What struck me most was how safe China is, we were even encouraged to chat with strangers to practice our Chinese! The people sitting nearby were warm and curious, and many advised me to chūqù wánr (出去玩儿), a phrase that literally means “go play,” but really captures the spirit of going out to explore and enjoy life.
Yangzhou’s Food
When arriving in Yangzhou, our priority was getting food, so we got into a small, modest restaurant and relied, as usual, on one of the Chinese local roommates to recommend which food to order. In China, meals are usually served family-style, with many shared dishes placed in the middle of the table so everyone can try a bit of everything, a tradition that emphasizes togetherness.
A dish I will never forget is called Shīzǐ Tóu (狮子头), which means “lion’s head”, and is a vegetable soup with big, fluffy, white meatballs inside. Besides being super delicious, I learned it is part of the menu that the president eats since it is very light and healthy for the body!
After finishing our meals, one of my friends told me this spot was a Michelin-starred restaurant. I could definitely believe it because of how tasty everything was but at the same time, the cheap price and tiny space made it seem like a regular place to get food. It was the best reminder that when traveling, some of the most authentic and unforgettable meals can be found in the most unassuming places.
Imperfect Makes it Perfect
While exploring the city, we had only one destination in mind: Geyuan Garden. Once the residence of a wealthy commissioner in the 1800s, the garden is famous for its classical design arranged to symbolize the four seasons.
After a long walk among bamboo yards and beautiful ponds, we found a museum dedicated to mythical creatures from Chinese folklore. Beyond the fascinating statues and drawings, the museum offered interactive, technological experiences: a videogame with 3D glasses that let us “capture” monsters, an AI-generated film showing how they might come to life, and even an electric drum game to awaken them.
Just as we left, rain caught our group and only 2 of us had umbrellas! We got wet but ran into a tea house and stayed there for a couple hours until the rain finished. I was able to better know my trip partners and try Yangzhou’s famous giant soup dumpling, guàntāng bāo (灌汤包), so big you need a straw to sip the broth before eating the dumpling itself. Even with the rain and an unsteady plan, we got to have a lot of fun and find our own hidden gems of Yangzhou.
Returning to Shanghai
Time passed incredibly fast, and before I knew it, we were already on the high-speed train back to Shanghai. I returned with a full belly, countless smiles, beautiful photos, a fan from the garden’s gift shop, and most importantly, a bunch of new friends.
CET Shanghai even reimbursed parts of our Orientation trip, like the train tickets and museum visit, which made the experience feel even more supported. When I later shared my trip with one of CET’s directors, he reminded me: “Now you know how to book your train ticket, what to pack for a day trip, and some useful phrases; you have the whole semester to plan your own adventures.”
That encouragement perfectly captured what this first journey meant: a chance to explore with support, while gaining the confidence to do it on my own. I can’t wait to share through my blogs what comes next: academics, roommates, trips, friends, internships, there’s so much ahead, and so much that I am grateful for every day. Stay tuned!