en Upper School students and four chaperones enjoyed amazing adventures and memorable cultural immersion during a 10-day trip to China at the beginning of Spring Break. Their busy itinerary featured two primary destinations with stops in Shanghai and Beijing. This article, the second of a two-part series, will focus on the second half of the trip in Beijing.
Students Aarya Patel ’25, Sevastian Castillo ’26, Pratham Gandhi ’26, Justin Lustgarten ’26, Ryan Maciorowski ’26, Nitya Sahni ’26, Lawson Shafer ’27, Sophie DeLaurentiis ’27, Nailah Frias ’27 and Rewa Gandhi ’27 were joined by chaperones Hua Liu, Director of China Studies and Upper School Chinese teacher, and Ryan Oliveira, Head Athletic Trainer. Longtime W+H staff member Dawn Cancryn and her husband, Wayne Cancryn, provided valuable support as chaperones.
“This was such a fun trip filled with so many memories,” Rewa said. “I loved the food, our Shanghai sister school, the museums and all the time spent there. Despite the difference in culture and traditions, I learned so much about a different way of life and got to embrace it for 10 exciting days.”
After taking a high speed train from Shanghai to Beijing, the students and chaperones visited many cultural landmarks during the second half of the trip.
“Once we were on top of the wall, it felt like a dream come true,” Sevastian said. “I couldn’t believe that I was actually standing on the wall. Once I got to the highest point of the wall, I just stood there, taking in the amazing view. I looked into the distance, noticing how small the houses and buildings in Beijing seemed. As the wind blew through my hair and the sun shined on all of me, I felt like I was on top of the world. This was one of the best feelings I have ever had.”
“Throughout the trip we had lots of fun and also learned a lot,” Pratham added. “From the moment we landed we were active and very busy. We also had a very understanding tour guide that was able to help us go down the slide on the way down from the Great Wall and someone that showed us many different locations and explained their vast culture and historical importance.”
They also visited The Forbidden City and explored the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, which offered unique glimpses into China’s royal past. They took a Tai Chi class and went on a small boat and cruise of the lake that was next to the temple and enjoyed a hot pot dinner to finish off their final day in China.
“I enjoyed the trip mostly because of all the new sights and experiences I was exposed to,” Ryan said. “Overall, this trip gave me a firsthand perspective of China and created memories I will remember forever.”
“This trip gave me a greater appreciation for Chinese history and culture,” Aarya said. “Visiting these historical sites provided valuable context to what I have studied in class, making the experience both educational and memorable.”
“Though the trip has ended, the memories will stay with me for a lifetime,” Ms. Liu added. “Looking back at the WeChat messages and reading the heartfelt reflections from the kids bring both a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. What an unforgettable experience!”