Culture and Living/Travel

• Beijing
  • On Campus: The Peking University Campus is really international and the school does a good job in integrating everyone. There is an international students office on campus and while I was there, there was also a multicultural fair with everything from craft making, dancing, to cooking. Students in general are really open to different races and cultures. For Chinese campus culture, many students are in campus clubs (hiking, biking, cats, traditional instruments, etc.). You’ll find most students studying A LOT. Bikes are a thing here, so make sure that you pay attention to people making their way through the crowds on bikes.
  • Beijing:
    • Beijing is the political capital of China and everyone talks politics, especially the taxi drivers. Sometimes opinions can be interesting, sometimes they can be insulting. Be open-minded or just say “ahhh.” Sometimes things can get heated internationally, and people get heated.
    • Just like in other places around the world, there is bound to be radicals who take things a step too far. Example? The THAAD issue. It’s a touchy topic but my friend began to tell people that she was Chinese American instead of Korean American to avoid some people being way too confrontational. These people are few, but you’ll probably encounter them. Just know that they’re way in over their heads and the general populace think they’re crazy too.
    • Beijingers are mostly used to foreigners but many people come in from other provinces to look for opportunities and it may be their first time seeing foreigners and WILL stare (especially if you don’t look Asian), but just take it in stride.
    • Beijing is also a cultural center for China as the capital of the last two dynasties and largely untouched by foreign cultures compared to more coastal cities. Here, you’ll find a host of traditional arts, architecture, and food.
    • There is a really big drinking culture here in Beijing with plenty of bars and clubs as well as lots of cafes and things to do for those who aren’t big drinkers.
    • Beijingers in general are really chill and nice people!
• China
  • Phone Applications:
    • Wechat: While in China, you’ll definitely need Wechat. In Beijing especially, the application is used for everything and has overtaken cash and credit cards for method of payment. It’s basically a messaging application but with all your Venmo, Uber, airplane and train ticket purchasing, and shopping applications together. The good thing about this app is that it has English
    • TMall (天猫) or Taobao (淘宝): You’ll get addicted to these two applications once you get your debit card connected here. Everything is available on these two online shopping giants at the tap of a finger.
    • Eleme (饿了么) and Meituan (美团外卖): Food delivery in China is so, so good. The great thing about our accommodations is that they can deliver straight to our floor too. If you’re too lazy to go out and eat, these two apps are the answer to all your problems.
    • Autonavi (高德地图): A lot of my friends just used Apple or Baidu maps but I thought that Autonavi was the most accurate in terms of directions. It helps a lot, especially when taking buses since it keeps track of stops and arrival times.
    • Dianping (点评): You can think of it as Chinese Yelp. Find all the restaurants, salons, dance studios etc. you need on this app. You can also sometimes book tables or buy coupons for deals!
  • When being abroad in general, not just in China, please be respectful to local culture and customs. You’re representing your country and not only that, being a good human being is just the right thing to do. Don’t take on a “foreigner privilege” while you’re here.
  • Safety: Beijing is a huge, huge city and China is a really, really big country so there’s lots to it.
    • Keep your belongings with you, never leave them at the table. When you’re on subways and other modes of transportation, it’s best to keep your bag in front of you.
    • When traveling or partying late into the night, always have a buddy with you (as you should always do). It’ll ensure that you will get home safely.
    • If you’re in a new place or you’re getting a sketchy feeling, always send shots of your location or turn on location on Wechat to keep in touch with your friends. If, as often in Beijing, the map tells you to go through the alleys and you are uncomfortable with it, just find another way through! Even I, who had an okay grasp of the language and the many alleys, was a little scared every time I took a shortcut.
    • When eating in China, it really depends on the person…as in if you get food poisoning from the street food or not. In general, in places such as the tourist streets in Chengdu where operations are strictly regulated, everything is good to go, but for random street side carts, it’s up for you to judge. I got food poisoning every time I got breakfast at this cart place (never stopped me though) but nothing ever happened to my friends so just watch what you eat. Don’t go to sketchy establishments. If you have a sensitive stomach, just go to the cleaner restaurants. You’ll be fine, food isn’t scary in China (even though a lot of reports always say it is -__-“). Eating at McDonald’s everyday because you’re afraid of the food will be your greatest regret ever DUN DUN DUN.
    • When traveling, which I will go through more thoroughly in the next section, keep in mind that not all places will be as safe (but on the contrary even more safe) than the big cities in China. Don’t get tricked by swindlers!
    • This was a test question for my HYXY speaking test: Do you think China or your home country is safer. HAHAHAHA. I guess it depends on the area right, as with everywhere. In general, I felt safer being out at night or by myself in China actually, especially in Beijing where there are guards like…everywhere.
• Traveling: Traveling around China is super, super convenient. The public transportation in large cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou (Canton), etc. is out of this world, ranging from basic stuff like subways to region specific modes of transportation like ferries and even tramways.
  • Bullet Train: The bullet trains of China are well known around the world for it’s ultrafast development (like one day they weren’t there, and the next day tadah). They are really convenient, connecting all the largest cities in China, and without delays. In my opinion, they’re the best form of transportation unless you’re planning to go long distances like from Beijing to Guangzhou, which would take eight hours (AND you have to wake up at five in the morning for the direct one). If you’re traveling to cities like Shanghai or Nanjing, this is the way to do it!
  • Airplane: There are airports everywhere in China, except the country is always plagued with bad weather in one place or another so domestic flights are often delayed (so sad). For places that are further from Beijing though, plane is the best option and tickets can be easily purchased online or at a store on campus. I would recommend flying the big three airlines (China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern) because they have the most flights, and flying with big airlines usually means more insurance.
  • Buses: There are also long haul buses to go out of the city to places like Gubei Watertown outside of Beijing or even Inner Mongolia.
  • Hong Kong/Macau: For people staying only a semester, the visa is usually only one entry so if you want to visit Hong Kong or Macau, you will have to apply for an extra entry at PKU’s international student center.
  • The Importance of Traveling in China: I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to travel around China. Each and every province, and even every city (and within a city) has their own drastically different culture and history and you’ll never get a full picture of it until you experience everything for yourself. Tibet might be hard to get to as a foreigner because you need to turn in a lot of applications, but even visiting the other two largest cities, Shanghai and Canton, will give you a glimpse of how much China has to offer. For example, a lot of people didn’t know that Nanjing was an old capital when we visited for UCEAP, or what the Republic of China was, or who Sun Yat-sen was. Even on a less historical front, trying the local food and experiencing the difference in climate and city vibes of a “southern” city was eye-opening. I myself grew up with all this information (albeit a more Canton version of things) ingrained in the back of my head, but going on this trip made me realize how little we learn about China back in America. Different regions have their own culture, architecture, art, etc. much like here in America. Take a chance to explore as many places as you can while in China (bonus: there’s good food everywhere) because Beijing is just one part of it. 
    • Recommendations:
      • Chengdu, Sichuan: The capital of Sichuan province. A laid back and really well organized city. Escape the hustle and bustle of Beijing for some really good down time here. Hike the nearby mountains, go see the pandas, eat all that Sichuan food! This place is one of my favorite cities in China.
      • Shanghai: Shanghai is the most cosmopolitan city in China. The city has so much history to offer, playing important roles in China’s modernization in politics, economics, and culture. It is much more than the shining Pudong skyscrapers or the bougie lifestyles (thanks Tiny Times) that now define its image. Explore the Bund, the old neighborhoods, the quiet alleys, and listen to the local Shanghai dialect.
      • Guangzhou, Guangdong: More known as Canton, this is the capital city of Guangdong province way in the south of China. It’s the home of Cantonese cuisine (like dimsum) and the place where the East first met the West. It’s also where Sun Yat-sen began his quest to take down the Qing government and the last capital of the Republic of China before the communists captured it. Visit the city to enjoy the greenery, the food, and here some of that Cantonese language and culture.
      • Nanjing, Jiangsu: One of the ancient capitals of China, and the main capital of the Republic of China before it was moved inland to Chongqing (another must visit). It’s a city with tons and tons of history and crucial to understanding the creation and development of China into what it is today. Visit Sun Yat-sen’s final resting place, the Nanjing Massacre Museum, and the Confucius temples where scholars went to pray before taking the imperial exams.
      • Kunming, Yunan: Nature, nature everywhere. The city is surrounded by must see natural sites and the province is home to the most ethnic groups in China. It’s toted as one of the most beautiful cites in China so go an see for yourself!
      • Wuzhen, Hangzhou: One of the most famous water towns in China. If you’ve ever read a Chinese romance novel set in the ancient time, it’s probably set in a water town like this one. So romantic. Water towns are a feature of the areas around Jiangnan (around the Yangtze River), with very distinct architecture.

The Peking program was a life-changing experience. I’ll be really honest here (spill my guts) and say that I really, really did not want to go to Beijing. My previous times there gave me the impression that it was really, really boring…really, really big….really, really hard to live in. Nothing like my homey and convenient cities in the south like Shanghai and Canton where everything is literally a hand’s reach away. Who wanted to go to Beijing with its sandstorms, bad air, and bad food? Ew. I literally went to Beijing thinking that, no kidding. However, over the course of the program, my view of Beijing has completely changed. Living and learning there allowed me to explore and experience so much more of the city than ever before; it challenged me and allowed me to grow. I was truly out of my comfort zone and I love everything that I got out of it.

First off, the people I met there, from all the friends I made to the random people on the streets. Everyone taught me something new. I met much more people from all over the world here than my other programs but there was never a distance between us. The friends I made here, they pushed me to go out, have fun, to explore, and played a great role in changing my scope on Beijing and the stories they shared allowed me to learn so much. There’s a little something for everyone here and even though we were all different, the things we experienced together in Beijing brought us all together. The people I met during my internship gave me encouragement that I never thought I needed and gave me endless life lessons. Beijingers were friendly and approachable, striking up a conversation wherever and whenever.

Throughout the program, I scratched my ankle ten times in the same place with the bike pedal, stumbled my way through Mandarin conversations with the taxi drivers, got food poisoning, wasted some money on a gym pass, and probably bought too many things from Taobao, but its’ all for the better. Now I can ride a bike on the busy streets of Beijing, speak in Mandarin with my dad’s friends, know all the good food places to recommend to people, stretch my leg a little, and be a little funkier with my fashion.

I think, out of all three programs, the experience in Beijing is the hardest to convey in words. It’s just something I feel in my heart. I’m glad I got to study at Peking University and all the experiences I gained there has touched my heart to no end.

Beijing has so many sides to it and I haven’t even explored half of it. I never thought I would ever say that I wanted to go back, but I do, and I want to show other’s my Beijing too. I think though, in the end, the best is to go and experience the city for yourself. Don’t just go to the palace, or the Great Wall. Take the subway, the bus, walk around, explore for yourself. Go on this program *wink, wink.*