Author: Kash Brown
By Day 10, we had officially settled into the rhythm of the trip. Early mornings, breakfast downstairs, long bus rides, nonstop walking, and somehow still finding the energy to be excited for whatever came next. But today felt a little different from the start because we were finally going to experience one of the things many of us had been looking forward to: China’s famous bullet train.
Since we were only staying one night at the Arcadia International Hotel in Cangzhou, we had an early start to the morning so everyone could pack, eat breakfast, and check out in time. We woke up around 7:30 AM and were on the bus by 8:30 AM, ready for another full day ahead.
As the bus pulled up to the train station, we grabbed our bags and followed our guides inside while waiting for them to hand out tickets. The station itself was packed with people moving quickly in every direction trying to catch their trains. Once we got our tickets, our group lined up and followed our guides through the station together until we finally reached the platform.
While we waited, another train suddenly flew past us in the opposite direction.
Whoosh!
It was fast. Much faster than anything most of us had ever seen in person before.
A few moments later, our train arrived and we boarded quickly. Since our seats were spread throughout the train, everyone settled wherever their assigned seat was. Once the train took off, it actually didn’t feel as fast sitting inside as it looked from the outside, but knowing how quickly we were moving still made the experience exciting. The ride itself was short, just enough for us to experience multiple stops before getting off at our destination.
One thing I really appreciated throughout this entire trip was how intentional and organized the program leaders were. Every stop, every walk, every activity flowed naturally into the next. Nothing felt random. There was always purpose behind the experience, and we recognized how thoughtfully this entire program had been designed.
After exiting the station, our charter bus was already waiting and took us to the next stop: the mall.
But this wasn’t just any mall.
This place was massive.
There were 12 giant connected buildings, each labeled alphabetically and numerically like A1, A2, B1, B2, and so on. Every building connected internally, allowing you to move endlessly from one section into another. Each area specialized in different products. One building might focus on electronics and home goods, while another was packed with clothing, shoes, bags, or accessories.
At first it felt exciting, but honestly… also overwhelming.
There were hundreds of stores and thousands of products everywhere you looked. Some items were clearly inspired by American brands, while others had hilariously misspelled English words across them. A lot of the products weren’t necessarily high quality, but the sheer scale of the place made it memorable. We spent nearly two hours walking from building to building and floor to floor just trying to take it all in.
It also became another reminder of just how massive China’s manufacturing and consumer economy really is. So many of the products we casually buy back home suddenly felt much more connected to the people, factories, and systems behind them.
After all that walking, we had definitely worked up an appetite.
The bus picked us up and took us to Jinyou Qinyuan for lunch. The restaurant itself was beautiful. Part restaurant, part marketplace, the walls were lined with baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables. As we walked toward our private dining room, I noticed vibrant décor, glowing floating lights hanging from the ceiling, and even an indoor koi fish pond.
By now, you’d think we would’ve gotten used to the giant lazy Susan tables and endless amount of food being served, but somehow every meal still surprised us.
Like usual, each table had hot tea alongside two bottles of soda: Sprite and Coke. Then the dishes started rolling out one after another. Many of the foods were things we’d never tried before, but by Day 10 we had become much more adventurous and open to trying new things.
After lunch, we headed to one of the most thought-provoking parts of the day: the International Forum for Technology Driven Poverty Solutions, hosted by the School of International Education at Hebei University of Technology.
The forum brought together students from multiple countries, with each group selecting one representative to present on the topic:
“How Can Technology Help Alleviate Poverty in Your Country?”
Before the presentations began, each group leader introduced their students and shared where they came from. It was incredibly interesting hearing how poverty looked different depending on the country and culture being represented. Some groups focused on education, others on healthcare access, agriculture, infrastructure, or internet access.
What stood out most was realizing that even though we all came from completely different backgrounds and countries, many of us were trying to solve the same issues in different ways. It created conversations that felt bigger than just a classroom presentation. By this point in the trip, many of us were beginning to look at global issues differently, not just through an American lens, but through a more connected, international perspective.
It reminded us how interconnected the world really is.
After the discussion was done, we worked in groups with other students to come up with a solution for a real world problem. Once the forum wrapped up, the bus came to pick us up and take us back to the hotel.
When we were done with the forum, the bus picked us up and drove back to the hotel. We freshened up and then walked together to Jin Chef for dinner. By now, we had noticed a pattern throughout China: instead of cakes or sugary desserts, meals often ended with fresh watermelon. Simple, refreshing, and honestly kind of perfect after such large meals.
After dinner, one of the group leaders mentioned they were heading for massages and asked if anyone wanted to join. Around six of us decided to go, mostly out of curiosity.
The experience was definitely different than expected.
They placed three of us in each room, each with massage chairs and matching pajama sets waiting for us. They served hot tea, turned on a movie projector, and shortly after, three masseuses came in and gave us head, neck, and shoulder massages.
Honestly?
It was the perfect way to end a long day full.
Closing Statement
Day 10 felt like a snapshot of modern China; fast-moving, highly organized, constantly evolving, and connected. From riding the bullet train to discussing global poverty solutions with students from different countries, the day pushed us to think beyond what we already knew. And somehow, after all the walking, and learning, we still found time to slow down, laugh together, and appreciate the experience we were sharing in real time.
Leave a Reply