Tianjin: A Not-So-Hidden Weekend Gem
For the first time for one of these blogs, I’m taking on a new challenge: exploring without the involvement of The Beijing Center! This past weekend, I took the chance to take a pre-finals breath of fresh air and vacation for the first time in China, to the city of Tianjin.
Cultural Exchange: University Style, Continued — International Cultural Festival
I’ve written about my cultural exchange experiences in Beijing and at Minzu University before, but recently, I added something new to my roster: introducing my own culture to others.
The Great Wall of China: The Most Iconic Tourist Experience
If there’s any historical landmark related to China someone remembers learning about as a young child, odds are it’s the Great Wall of China. I have distinct memories of sitting in my third-grade social studies class, learning about this ancient marvel of engineering that was large it could be seen from space.
Heaven in Beijing: TBC’s Visit to the Temple of Heaven
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.
Cultural Exchange, Chinese University Style
Another one of the more irreplaceable experiences we have in China as students is the amount of cultural exchange we get to participate in. While The Beijing Center organizes plenty of culture-based events, from tourist activities to arts workshops, there’s something about engaging with other people our own age in cultural exchange that’s really special.
Gubei: An Excursion to China’s Newest Old Water Town
Over this past weekend, some of our students enrolled at Minzu University of China took their annual Spring Outing – this year, to Gubei Water Town. Situated about a 2-hour drive northeast of Beijing, the April weather made it absolutely perfect to explore for a spring outing. It surrounds various canals and offshoots of Yuanyang lake.
Beijing’s Hutongs: From Snuff Bottles to Exploration with a View
If you ever want to get a taste of Old Beijing, by far one of the best ways is to visit the hutongs. They’ve conceptually been around all the way since the 1200s, and in their most modern forms exist as protected alleyways and streets surrounded by old traditional houses and neighborhoods in the heart of Beijing and are recognized in China to be an important part of cultural heritage in the city.
ChinaContact: LMU Study Tour in Beijing and Xi’an
From March 28 to April 5, faculty and students from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) traveled to Beijing and Xi’an as part of a ChinaContact study tour organized by The Beijing Center (TBC).
Yunnan Excursion: A Life-Changing Cultural Experience
My name is Jane Turner, and I’m a student from America- a second-year at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Although I’m studying in the middle of America, I come from the very south, from a state called Louisiana.
A Journey Inward: Culture, Identity, and Encounter in Yunnan
My name is Panatsaya, a third-year student at Xavier Learning Community (XLC) / Saengtham College, Xavier Campus, Chiang Rai (SC-XCC), and I come from the Akha ethnic community. Questions of culture, identity, and belonging have never been abstract to me—they have always been part of my daily life.
Yunnan Excursion: A Journey That Changed How I See the World
My name is Tasan Sisuphasap, a third-year student at Xavier Learning Community (XLC), Saengtham College, Xavier Campus, Chiang Rai (SC-XCC), and I come from a Karen ethnic community. Growing up on a mountain, the world beyond my village often felt far away and unfamiliar.
YES Student in Hong Kong
Over spring break, I was given the opportunity by TBC to take a scholarship-supported trip to Macau, and from there, enjoyed just over three days in Hong Kong. Lamma Island, a small island in Hong Kong, is where most of my mom’s China stories take place.
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.