Written by Paola Sigüenza (George Washington College), Scholar Correspondent for CET Shanghai, Fall 2025
Probably the greatest elements of CET Shanghai has been the Touring Seminar. Each semester, CET plans a cohort-wide journey to a spot outdoors Shanghai, and this time, we explored Guizhou Province, visiting 4 rural localities in only one week. The perfect half? Every part was completely organized by our CET administrators and native accomplice organizations. All we college students needed to do was be taught, discover, and convey our curiosity (and cameras!). As a substitute of a day-by-day recap–as a result of that might be countless–listed below are a few of my favourite highlights from an unforgettable week of aspect quests in rural localities of Guizhou.
Buyei Stick Preventing & 5-Coloration Rice
Our first cease was Biket Village in Zhenfeng County, the place we discovered concerning the intangible cultural heritage of Buyei stick preventing. We started with an apprenticeship ceremony thanking our teacher earlier than he demonstrated 4-5 creative preventing types. I’ve by no means felt cooler in my life than after I lastly mastered one full set of actions—undoubtedly more durable than it appears within the films!
Afterward, we tried native delicacies, together with my private favourite amongst all of the journeys’ meals: 5-colored glutinous rice served with a number of aspect dishes. As a rice lover, the delicate spices and pure flavors had been pure heaven. Later that day, we headed to the Sancha River outside base for a mountain bike journey. Think about 30 CET college students and lecturers biking via the mountains, surrounded by rolling inexperienced hills and contemporary air, it was completely breathtaking and such a bonding second for all of the cohort!
Huajiang Canyon Bridge & River Adventures
The following day, we witnessed one in all China’s most spectacular fashionable engineering feats: the Huajiang Canyon Bridge, the tallest bridge on this planet. We didn’t solely noticed it from afar, however had been additionally allowed to cross via it, which was barely nerve-wracking, however the view of the 2 mountains separating the river was price each second.
Our bus then took us 625 meters all the way down to the river, the place we loved a peaceable boat tour via the canyon. It was a type of surreal journey moments once you cease and assume, “How did I find yourself right here?” After the boat journey got here a 3-kilometer paddleboarding journey! I observed that CET was tremendous versatile with everybody’s bodily exercise preferences: a few of us paddled, some stayed on the boat, and some courageous buddies even swam a part of the route. The combination of calm surroundings and laughter made it unforgettable.
Lijiaochong Scenic Space & A “Harry Potter”-Type Feast
Our subsequent vacation spot was Lijiaochong scenic space, dwelling to the attractive Cuigui waterfalls. This was the primary time we break up into small teams to discover the totally different choices that the park supplied: cable vehicles, mesmerizing caves, extra chill boat rides, and buses passing via dense forests. Since Guizhou doesn’t obtain many worldwide vacationers, many locals excitedly requested for photographs with us. It was such a pleasant alternative to talk with individuals and know different views of Guizhou.
That very same night, we attended a Miao long-table feast that includes bitter soup beef and stir-fried dishes (the desk setting jogged my memory a lot of the Hogwarts home desk). The meal started with a welcoming ceremony the place girls in conventional crimson attire sang, supplied bowls of water, and painted pink circles on our cheeks to represent pleasure. The lengthy tables inspired everybody to play video games collectively, like Phone and a counting Chinese language recreation. It was probably the most healthful, heartwarming nights with the cohort of my total research overseas expertise.
Dressing Up with the Miao: Catwalk & Celebration
To wrap up the journey, CET college students had been invited to take part in a neighborhood competition in Guiyang: full with a catwalk and stay performances! We wore conventional Miao ethnic clothes and had our make-up performed by skilled artists (assume “douyin filter”, however actual life). Strolling onstage alongside children, grandparents, different college students, fashions, and musicians felt surreal and delightful.
A few of us had been even invited last-minute to affix a dance holding arms with a gaggle of native aunties! On the finish, a singer joined the stage and made us all dance to the remixes of conventional Chinese language music and techno that he had made. It was such a cool second dancing below the rain with my buddies, all dressed up in ethnic garments, singing out loud songs we didn’t actually perceive.
This week-long journey confirmed me a aspect of China I by no means may have found alone. In Guizhou, I witnessed how fashionable infrastructure meets historic custom, and the way ethnic minority cultures proceed to thrive. From the breathtaking landscapes to the heat of native communities, each second left a mark on me. The expertise was so distinctive that CCTV, China’s most well-known information channel, interviewed us a number of instances, and the Guizhou provincial authorities welcomed us as honorary company. If you’re a pupil debating whether or not to attend CET Shanghai, please achieve this, this has been an actual once-in-a-lifetime-experience that I’ll inform my grandkids about. 我爱贵州！
