The Beijing Center

the beijing center for chinese studies

NEWS & EVENTS

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.

ChinaContact: ESAN Graduate School of Business

The Beijing Center (TBC) is always pleased to welcome our friends from Escuela de Administración en Negocios para Graduados – Perú (School in Business Administration for Graduates – ESAN).

Library Tour: A Look Inside Kircher’s China Illustrata

Athanasius Kircher was a renowned Jesuit scholar of the 17th century, he was called the “Renaissance man” and is often described as an enigmatic intellectual, due to his wide range of interests in subjects like linguistics, geology, music, etc. He is also credited as the founder of Egyptology, although later on, most of his translations needed to be corrected.

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.