By Saijayani and Beatrice, Year 10
This Easter, about 40 students from Oxford High School, Bartholemew School and John Mason School went to China. It was the most amazing trip, far exceeding our expectations. Ten days in such a rich and diverse country taught us so much about the culture and was an unforgettable experience.
On Day 1, we arrived after a crazy ten hour flight, explored the Hu Tong area and had our first meal in China. This was also the first time we were able to get to know students from the other schools. On Day Two, we went to the Temple of Heaven, firstly doing Taichi in a woodland. Then, we went to a small park and got to do some stretching, and we were all amazed at how much stronger the locals were than us! The Temple of Heaven was very crowded, but the classic Imperial Chinese architecture blew us away. The next day we left Beijing, taking a bullet train to Xi’an to meet our penpals.
Xi’an was probably the best part of the trip – from the busy, crowded streets in the market to the Datang Everbright and Daming Palace, Xi’an was full of new experiences and amazing food. We were able to appreciate the size of the inner city by cycling across the city wall – and see the army of terracotta warriors. We went to the school to meet with our penpals, and they were able to show us an authentic experience of Xi’an, temples and historical sites and sharing a meal with their family. The next day, we visited them again in school to see how differently schools are run – it was definitely a challenging experience!
We were allowed to explore the sprawling markets in the Muslim Quarter – by then our haggling skills were nearly perfect and we were able to get some souvenirs! On the seventh day, we returned to Beijing, and on the last day, we climbed the Great Wall. The idea of being on one of the Seven Wonders of the World seems crazy, and it’s even more surreal to actually do it. The plane journey back was even a little saddening, as there were so many wonderful memories that we created, and such lovely weather that we knew England could not match.
We really hope that this article convinces you all to take a spontaneous trip to China this summer, or at the very least, sign yourself up for the next one at OHS!
