INTRODUCTION
On my trip to China, I got to see a side of that I never knew about. While I was in China, being there showed me that it’s not just about tall buildings or bullet trains. There is a lot of culture, tradition, and beauty in the everyday things such as food, clothes, and how people live. My portfolio is about the little things that stood out to me and helped me understand China. I’m focusing on things like the food which was way different from American Chinese food and the architecture, traditional costumes and silk embroidery, and how high-tech life is in some cities. China is most definitely moving fast, but it still holds onto its traditions, and I thought the balance was nice. So, l would like to show how these places and people I saw gave me a better picture of what China is like. My goal is to show what I saw, what surprised me, and what made me think differently.
THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA!
The Great Wall of China was one of the many beautiful places we visited. The steps were scary. They were steep, uneven, and never ending. People were running up and down them like they were racing, and I was just trying to walk without falling. At one point on the way down, three people fell into my boyfriend Camani and me. Not just bumped into us but fell. I was already trying to be careful, so when that happened, I kind of panicked. Camani caught us, but I broke a nail in the process. It wasn’t graceful at all, and it honestly threw me off for a second, I was just happy everyone was okay. Anyways the wall was huge and beautiful. Most of what we see today was built during the Ming Dynasty, between 1368 and 1644, it was made to protect China from invaders like the Mongols Seeing those towers spaced out in the distance made that really clear. They weren’t for decoration they were meant for watching the land and defending it. Even though it’s packed with tourists now, the Wall still felt serious. It’s one of those places that holds its energy, no matter how many people are around. The crowds didn’t take away from how strong and important it felt. It’s extremely crazy to think that this was once an active defense system and now people from all over the world come here just to walk it. Like it is so interesting to think soldiers were walking on these steps daily.
FOOD AND CLOTHING
One of my favorite parts of the trip was the food and it was nothing like the American Chinese food back in the states. Every place we visited had its own cooking styles and different specialties. Honestly the food was good, and some were so unique that I didn’t even know how to describe the taste. But every meal was an adventure, and trying these different flavors made me feel closer to Chinese culture. I love trying new things and that includes food. I am a don't knock it until you try it type of person! Food in China did not feel like it was just about eating it felt deeply tied to family life and social traditions. Sharing meals feels like sharing stories and history. I noticed that at every table, food brought people together in a way that felt universal. I also loved seeing traditional clothing and silk embroidery up close. ESPECIALLY when we got to dress in the traditional clothing, we all looked so nice! Yes, most people wear their modern clothes daily, but traditional outfits are still worn during festivals, cultural events, and performances. This blend of old and new made me realize how China respects its rich past while embracing the present something I think many cultures around the world are navigating today. And then the patterns with the silk embroidery showed how much care and skill went into making each piece of just silk by itself or art.
Architecture
China’s architecture really showed me how different the country can feel depending on where you are. In Beijing, I saw traditional palaces, temples, and old neighborhoods. These places felt calm, peaceful, and full of history. It was just extremely beautiful I know I keep saying how beautiful things are but I'm just telling the truth! Then in Shanghai, which was one of my top 3 cities we visited it was just a complete difference between the skyscrapers with pretty lights and designs. I even got to ride a bullet train it wasn't in Shanghai, but I still felt a need to mention this. Shanghai just felt so high tech, just full of energy and technology. Seeing these two worlds side by side helped me understand how China is growing fast but still holds onto the things that make it unique. The country is balancing modernization with preservation, reminding me that progress doesn’t have to mean losing tradition.
DAILY LIFE
In China people pay for everything with their phones even at small shops my main way for making purchases was through Alipay. I honestly found this kind of similar to the states, since we also have a way of making purchases with our phones. It was so many moments where I just caught myself saying " wow ". But at the same time, I saw people lighting incense at temples and practicing traditional arts in public parks. From fashion and food to music and ceremonies, people embraced Chinese traditions. This experience showed me that a society can grow and innovate without losing what makes it special. It was great to see how China holds onto its cultural roots even as it goes towards the future.
REFLECTION
Before this trip, most of what I knew about China came from school or stuff I saw online. Being there in person was a whole different experience. It made me realize there’s so much more to the country than what people usually assume. I saw how modern life and tradition mix together in everyday lives. People of all ages still connect with their culture, even as things keep changing and moving forward. I tried new foods, explored historic places, and just watching how people live. It helped me see and appreciate a culture that’s way different from mine in some ways, but still relatable in others. I’m really glad I got to experience it for myself instead of just hearing about it or seeing pictures online. This was a great oppurtunity, thank you !