Natalia Gibas (Applied Linguistics) and Dominika Włodarz (Business Analytics), who participated in the Summer School of Chinese Language and Multicultural Practice, share their experiences from their four-week stay at the Beijing Institute of Technology.
After flying almost 10,000 kilometers, we finally landed in the land of pandas and cutting-edge technology. That’s where our adventure truly began. Volunteers from the Beijing Institute of Technology warmly welcomed us and helped us settle into our new four-week reality.
WEEK 1 - "Who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man"
The first week in China was full of new experiences. We got to know new friends from all around the world, discovered that in Asia you can’t throw toilet paper into the toilet, and attended our first Mandarin Chinese classes. Even though it’s not an easy language, the lessons awakened in some of us a real passion for learning it and gave us the confidence to handle simple conversations in everyday situations.
To start our sightseeing, we decided to visit traditional gray houses, hutongs, where we tasted dumplings filled with crab soup and collected colorful stamps. We also explored Beihai Park — a stunning Chinese garden — before heading to two of the main attractions. Watching the Forbidden City from the hill in Jingshan Park, surrounded by fairy tale music and pink sunset was truly unforgettable. But the highlight of the week was our visit to the Great Wall. The weather was misty and the stairs were steep, but its height and endless length made an impression on us. We needed a while to stop and meditate.
Week 1 photos
WEEK 2 – “Flying Noodles and the Colors of the Summer Palace”
This week we started to feel at home, as we had settled down. We took part in the long-awaited calligraphy classes, where we learned how to properly write Chinese characters. We also visited the Lama Temple, which showed us what role religion plays in the lives of Chinese people. Later, we went to the Summer Palace, which turned out to be spread over a vast area with quite steep high hills. After immersing ourselves in Chinese culture and history, we went to Haidilao, a famous place known for its Hot Pot. It was truly an experience — we had to cook the food ourselves, and we even watched a show with dancing noodles! Not to mention how warmly we were welcomed as foreigners.
Week 2 photos
WEEK 3 – “Peking Duck... is a Sweet Duck”
Having already spent quite some time in Beijing exploring beautiful traditional landmarks, we decided to see something more modern and youthful. That’s why we went to the 798 Art District. We grabbed our favorite “Snowman-Penguin” drinks and explored the area full of small houses and colorful displays.
This week, we also tried Peking Duck — eaten in a very special way. First comes the crispy skin covered in pink sugar, followed by the duck meat with hawthorn apple jam, onion, cucumber, and soy sauce, all rolled in a thin wheat wrap. Tasty!
We also visited the Olympic Park, but sadly, since the Olympic Games ended, the heart of this place seems to have stopped beating.
Week 3 photos
WEEK 4 - "All together: We love BIT"
Our last week could be described in to words: goodbyes full of tears and equiping with stuff to take home, but before that, we had a chance to see a flea market in Beijing. There were various objects and but among them we found precious stones and jewelry. Wanting to equip ourselves with some useful stuff, we visited the Glass City. We also had an occasion to participate in a delicious Yunnan fest. To finish our journey, we went to see the last relic on our list - Temple of Heaven. It overlooks the park it is located in and shines in the evening sunlight.
If somebody asked us how we can summarize our trip, we for sure would say: "We love BIT!"
Week 4 photos
