Bay to Beijing

Tag: hiking

  • Day 12 – Great Heights: A Day on the Great Wall

    Author: Miguel Aguilar

    We left the wonderful city of Tianjin early on Saturday morning, May 24th, heading to the Great Wall and wrapping up our program in Beijing. Before we departed, our amazing host Abby came to say goodbye, it was the last time we’d see her on the trip. Huge thanks to Abby for being such a wonderful host and an incredible person. This trip wouldn’t have been the same without her.

    The drive to the Great Wall was long, and we stopped for lunch along the way at a restaurant just outside our destination at The Great Wall.

    As always, the food was amazing. My favorite dishes were the glass noodles and the beef with spicy peppers. It was a perfect meal to fuel us for the climb ahead.

    During lunch, we also met Grace, who would be our tour guide in Beijing for the rest of the trip. She sat with our group and shared both historical insights and tips for tackling the Wall.

    After lunch, we arrived at the entrance of the Great Wall. We were given the option to take a ferry or start the climb from the base. Everyone chose to walk.

    We underestimated the number of stairs, and it was a very difficult climb! But after about 20 minutes, the view made every step worth it.

    The weather was beautiful, and being there in such a historic and symbolic place was surreal. Even after reaching the wall itself, we still had to hike to Tower 1.

    That part wasn’t as intense, and the breathtaking views and photo ops helped distract us from the physical challenge. Shout-out to Jazmin for being the first one to reach the top! On the way back down we encountered a group of local students who were very welcoming. We were both excited to meet one another. They gave us a red scarf, tied it around our neck, and then we had a photo op. It was a highlight of the trip that we hadn’t anticipated.

    On the way back, we learned that we’d be taking the tobogganing down, a highlight we were all looking forward to. Some of us took our time heading back, and along the way, we ran into a large group of around 30 – 40 schoolchildren and their teachers, making their way up.

    They were incredibly welcoming. One student even let me wave a large Chinese flag while standing on the Wall. All of us had the chance to wave it, and we took a photo together while shouting a Mandarin phrase. When I asked what it meant, they told me it translated to “Long Live China.”

    As part of this beautiful exchange, the students and teachers gave us red scarves and respectfully tied them around our necks, a gesture that made us feel accepted and honored.

    One student even bowed while handing me the flag, showing a deep level of cultural respect. It was a heartwarming and unforgettable experience. What stood out to me most was the pride these students had for their country. Each time someone waved the flag, they saluted without hesitation. Their pride, discipline, and kindness left a lasting impression on all of us.

    Eventually, we made it to the tobogganing line. The wait was around 30 minutes, but the ride was fast, exciting, and totally worth it. It was like a roller coaster that I didn’t want to end.

    Once we all reached the bottom, we regrouped, took the shuttle back to our bus, and drove about an hour and a half to our dinner spot near the hotel.

    Everyone was hungry after the day’s adventure, and the meal hit the spot. We finished the day back at the hotel, resting our legs and recharging for the next day of our journey.

    Climbing the Great Wall was more than a physical challenge—it was an emotional journey. From the breathtaking views to the unexpected exchange with local students, every moment reminded us why we travel: to connect, to learn, and to grow. The pride, discipline, and kindness we witnessed left a lasting mark. It’s one thing to visit a world wonder; it’s another to feel welcomed by the people who live in its shadow. This day, like so many on this journey, is something we’ll carry with us forever.

  • Day 5: Echoes of the Past, Seeds of the Future

    Author: Bryan D’Mar Zepeda-Carranza

    The day after checking in to our hotel in Fuping, we started the morning by visiting one of two rural villages in Fuping. Historically, the area served as an important military post helping the Chinese army push back the Japanese; its mountainous terrain made it suitable for guerrilla warfare against the imperial army. Today, Fuping is described as having some of the poorest villages in the Hebei province; possibly largely ignored by previous Chinese leaders who were more focused on developing Chinas economic hubs. President Xi Jinping has promised to eliminate poverty in rural areas; his leadership aims to prioritize development in areas of need like Fuping and not just major metropolitan areas. 

    We walked up some steps into a very clean courtyard with a large TV in the center showing president Xi Jinping speaking to a woman. We found out that the courtyard and the area around was the woman’s former home and president Xi Jinping visited this exact location more than 10 years ago. To our surprise, the woman in the video appeared in front of us and shared her experience. Speaking a local Chinese dialect, Joy who is from Inner Mongolia and shares a similar dialect, attempted to translate. We learned that the village was in very poor condition before the governments visit. The villager went into detail about how difficult life was like back then having to care for her children and not having much food to live off of. Joy later explained she could feel the emotion coming from her voice. We also got to see the inside of her former home. Inside we were able to see a Northerner’s bed style which used the fire for cooking to warm the bed during winter. 

    We next got a small tour of a few villager homes, where we could see some of their personal belongings. Facing the main entrance was a  wall with a portrait of Mao and president Xi Jinping.

    We then continued to see more homes, this time former homes. The walls of these homes, over 100 years old, were made out of grass and mud; it was very hard to see inside since these homes did not have electricity. Walking in one actually reminded me of how many village people in Mexico, like my own mother, also lived like this. It made me wonder what she would think seeing homes of similar design all the way in China. We then visited another local area where the president met with not just village leaders but also the villagers themselves to discuss needs for the village for happiness.

    After visiting the villages, we then went to visit a mushroom farm that had biotechnology assistance. With assistance from researchers, the mushroom spores are exposed to intense sterilization techniques before seeded in optimal conditions in warehouses. 

    Here, we learned that this farm provides mushrooms to many supermarkets in China. I reflected here a little on how we were getting a glimpse of the sustainability China has in feeding its massive population. Of course, the visit ended with everyone having the opportunity to try one of their delicious mushrooms.

    Today reminded us that behind every government initiative or headline are real people with real stories. Walking through the village, hearing a mother’s voice crack with emotion, and seeing homes made of earth and grit grounded us in the resilience of rural China. From century-old homes to biotech-powered mushroom farms, Day 5 was a powerful reminder of what progress looks like—and how deeply connected our stories can be across borders.