Swing Into the Spring Season with The Beijing Center and Five Loaves and Two Fish
Five Loaves and Two Fish is a volunteer organization centered on providing support and international education opportunities to the local migrant children who comprise its student body.
History and Hutongs: Connecting with Chinese Tradition through Handicraft
Snuff bottles represent a centuries-old cultural exchange between Europeans and the Chinese, where the import of tobacco products met the craftsmanship and artistry of Manchurian Beijing in the height of the Qing Dynasty. Manchu culture relished in entertainment and creature comforts, and snuff, being a mixture of ground tobacco and dried herbs, became very popular.
TBC Welcomes Spring 2025 Students from IAJU Magis Exchange Program
This semester, The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC) has welcomed exchange students from AJCU schools to participate in the YES (Young Envoys Scholarship) program. With anticipation and curiosity, the exchange students have set foot on this unfamiliar land for the first time, starting their new chapter of study abroad.
Brushstrokes of Meaning: My Chinese Arts and Culture Exhibition Experience
Art often bridges the past and present, connecting us to centuries-old traditions while sparking deeply personal creativity. My recent experience in a Chinese Arts and Culture class beautifully encapsulated this idea.
Volunteer Activity At Five Loaves Two Fish
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a volunteering activity that left a deep impression on me. It was a day dedicated to cultural exchange, creativity, and a wonderful reminder of the vibrancy of tradition — both Chinese and beyond.
Acrobatics, Pandas, Temple of Heaven, and More: Weekend Excursions in Beijing
The past few weekends have been some of the most exciting of the entire semester, full of trips to the zoo, mountain hikes, ancient parks, and more! Our first trip out of many was a visit to the Beijing Zoo. I had mentioned earlier in the semester that I wanted to see some pandas, since I was in China after all, and our TBC friend Andy made it happen.
Weekend Trip to Shanghai
Spending a whole semester in Beijing, I knew I had to make the trip down south and check out Shanghai, and the city certainly lived up to the expectations. Everyone describes Shanghai as this super futuristic metropolis, and after spending a weekend there I understand why it has this reputation.
Fall Photography Contest
The moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived—The Beijing Center (TBC) is thrilled to announce the winners of our Fall Photography Contest! These beautiful photographs were captured through the lenses of our talented exchange students, who come to China each semester for a journey that truly expands their horizons.
Hiking the Great Wall for the First Time
Before coming to China, the one thing I knew I had to see was the Great Wall. From an American perspective it is the quintessential Chinese site, equally historical and astounding, and when one thinks of China one thinks of the Great Wall. Other famous sites like the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors are famous, but nothing compares to the Great Wall.
Exploring Beijing During the National Day Holiday
Although I have already spent a couple months in Beijing, I know there was still much more to see and explore, so I spent the National Day break trying see as many new places in the city as I could. National Day is celebrated on October 1 every year, and it is a celebration of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
First Time Visiting the Forbidden City
September continued to be an exciting month, and on the same week of the Mid-Autumn Festival I got the chance to visit one of the most visited attractions in the world- the Forbidden City. I went on a Saturday with a group of students from The Beijing Center.
Mid-Autumn Festival as an American in Beijing
The past month has been very exciting, and I have experienced a ton of events and celebrations unique to China, a highlight being the Mid-Autumn Festival. I have heard of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the U.S. in Chinese class, and it has always seemed like an interesting holiday.
Dunhuang: Where Desert Sands Meet Timeless Culture
Nestled at the edge of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang is a place where history, nature, and culture converge. Known as a key stop along the ancient Silk Road, this small town is a treasure trove of experiences, from breathtaking desert landscapes to rich cultural heritage.
Xiahe in the Fall
Staying in Xiahe in the colder season added a beautiful, if bracing, layer to the experience. Xiahe County, located in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province, China, borders Qinghai province to the west. Upon arriving at the Baoma Hotel, where I stayed for two nights, I was greeted by crisp air and temperatures that hovered near freezing.
Xi’an as The Palette of Life
“If you want to witness China’s 500-year history, go to Beijing. If you want to witness China’s 2000-year history, go to Xi’an,” stated my tour guide. When I landed in Xi’an after a lengthy overnight trip, I was greeted with a steaming breath of summery wind in the midst of a gorgeous, blossoming metropolitan surroundings.
East to West: Experiencing China for the First Time Through the Silk Road
Over the course of about 10 days, we traveled well over 4,000 kilometers from Beijing all the way to Kashgar, stopping at many places along the way and seeing a variety of cities, landscapes, and cultures that I never thought I would get to experience.
Painting Snuff Bottles in the Beijing Hutongs as an American
Painting snuff bottles was one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable experiences I’ve had in China. Many of the excursions and activities I have been able to do through TBC are very famous, like the Forbidden City or the Summer Palace, so I have known what to expect and to be excited for.
TBC Welcomes Fall Semester Students
This week, TBC was pleased to welcome Fall Semester students Mars, Jen, and Thomas! We are thrilled to have them join us this fall as they embark on an exciting academic journey in Beijing.
Chinese Roommate Experience: Livia Li
Four months later, as winter had gone and spring came with roses in full bloom, our relationship blossomed similarly.
MAKING NEW FRIENDS ON CAMPUS
Thankfully, everyone here is very nice and like anywhere else, some students are reserved and may not approach you first, but others will approach you first. You can choose to be the ones to initiate or not but either way finding something you guys can mutually do, like playing sports, is the first step. From there, friendships blossom.