Bay to Beijing

Tag: xiongan

  • Day 6 (Pt. 2) – Xiong’an – A Trip to the Future

    Author: Dennyce Martinez Arriaga

    Where to start… I suppose I should start by stating that for some time now, I’ve identified as a luddite. 

    Luddite (n): A person opposed to new technology or ways of working. 

    Xiong’an, China, you’ve certainly changed my mind about tech! Visiting the City of the Future, the Smart City Museum and the Chili Farm was a welcomed breath of fresh air for me. Out of everything I experienced that day, everything I saw and interacted with; I took away the following – it’s evidence that China acts and leads with intention. The intention to improve not just the lives of the people, but the environment that they cohabit with. The environment around us that we share. 

    I was amazed by the three tiered city concept at the Smart City Museum. Three tiered infrastructure designed to receive car cand traffic congestion on the main ground level, freeing up space to develop rich, vibrant and green community spaces all powered by clean, renewable energy. Designating the lower tow stories or tiers to efficient public transportation like China’s high speed trains and commuter cars. Truly a revolutionary and futuristic concept that myself and I”m sure my peers have never conceptualized or heard of until that day. 

    It’s incredible to witness first hand how much China has already achieved to lower their carbon footprint, mitigate pollution and introduce renewable, clean green energy to their country. And to add to that, it’s commendable to see how quickly their government has acted with intention and purpose to achieve these milestones. 

    Technology is a wonderful gift and a tool that should be used to improve our lives and our environment. And like many tools, like swords for example, it has double edges; one with great potential to launch us towards prosperity and longevity and the other towards a cruel, destructive reality often fueled by promises of big profit gains and total power and control. When I walked away from the museum and the agricultural farm, I felt hope for the first time in a very long time. Renewed faith in the concept of harmonious balance. I hope that one day, hopefully in our near future, our country can partner with China to learn from their visions, green policy initiatives and to understand how policy and technology can go hand in hand to improve the lives of people. 

    I can’t thank Hebei University of Technology enough for giving me this incredible opportunity to witness Chinese innovation at work! I walked away with so much hope for the future of our world and for the future of technology. 

    I’m excited for what the future holds for China and its wonderful people! Especially to see how they further expand on their impressive agricultural/farming achievements as extreme weather conditions due to aggressive climate changes threaten our food crops and agricultural sectors. 

    I hope to visit Xiong’an in the future to celebrate their many milestones to come!

    Check out more photos here.

    The story begins… Day 6 (Pt. 1): Xiong’an – Smart Cities, Spicy Lessons, and Shared Stories by Staci Edwards

  • Day 6 (Pt. 1) – Xiong’an – Smart Cities, Spicy Lessons, and Shared Stories

    Author: Staci Edwards

    (Xiong’an and Chili Farm)

    On Day 6, most of the group members began to feel settled in. We were making new friends, laughing at each other’s jokes, and trying new foods with one another. For some of us, this was our first time traveling internationally, but the positivity of Bill Kwong, Joy, and Emily made everyone feel safe and welcomed. Some students even began to feel a little homesick, but other members stepped in to remind them that we have each others’ backs.

    After learning a bit about the rich history of China, the American students went to Xiong’an, also known as “The Smart City”. We took a look around the amazing developments and then headed to the museum that highlighted the great potential future of the area. The exhibition was amazing—from the holograms, to the projected images, to the physical mini representation of the city, we were shocked at the level of detail the museum put into creating a meaningful experience for its audience.

    Many of us bought a few items from the store of the museum, like bookmarks, incense, notebooks, pins, and stamps. Some of us actually spent more money than we anticipated! It was all worth it in the end though, because we got to bring these souvenirs home as gifts for our loved ones. Joy was also quick to help us translate when we weren’t sure of what something was <3.

    After an insightful visit to the Xiong’an exhibition, we went to a well-renowned chili farm with the Finnish students! We learned about how the factory uses the chilis’ sizes, color, length, and curvature to determine which ones they will sell and throw away. We got to test what we learned by sorting the chilis ourselves, AND even got to try one!

    Then, we participated in a panel where American students and Finnish students talked about how their respective countries are doing what they can to help their people thrive. What an interesting topic!

    Day 6 reminded us that growth isn’t just found in history books or high-tech exhibits—it’s found in connection. Whether we were in awe of futuristic holograms, sorting chili peppers by hand, or sitting in a circle sharing stories with students from Finland, we realized how different—and yet how similar—our worlds truly are. As this journey continues, one thing is clear: it’s not just about the places we visit, but the people we experience them with.

    The story continues… Day 6 (Pt. 2): Xiong’an – A Trip to the Future by Dennyce Martinez Arriaga

    Checkout more photos here.