A frequently question asked is: Are there opportunities to travel to nearby cities while studying in Nanjing? Although our main focus at the HNC is of course, our studies, official school breaks do give students ample free time, and some students use this time to explore China. In fact, traveling around China is becoming increasingly more convenient. To travel, you can choose from several modes of transportation including the 高铁 (fast train), which is the quickest option. During the break, some students stayed at the HNC, while others traveled to neighboring cities.
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| Our travel group at a delicious spicy-food / hot pot restaurant |
I went with a group of friends to Shanghai, which seemed to be a popular destination this year. While we were there, we met up with other HNC students. As soon we got to Shanghai, we began to explore the city.
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| 中山公园 is located in Shanghai’s Changning District |
One of our first stops was 中山公园, a beautiful, scenic park that had a Central Park feel to it –although there was a small shop selling 手抓饼, so it was even better. Families gathered at the park to enjoy the beautiful weather. We ended up making new friends with 3 young boys and began a friendly game of soccer.
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| Our group pictured with our 小朋友’s after our soccer gam |
Other stops included 田子坊, the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre, the Bund, the French Concession, and more. We even had a chance to sneak in Chinese massages (中医按摩).
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| Because we are students, admission to the Museum was free! |
My favorite museum of the trip was the Shanghai World Expo Museum. Before this trip, I did not know the entire history of World Expos. What was so great about this museum in particular was that the entire museum was focused on the history of World Expos since 1851, when they began in London, until the latest one in 2010 in Shanghai.
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| Jing’an Temple at night |
Jing’an Temple, literally “Temple of Peace and Tranquility” is a well-known Buddhist temple in Shanghai that was originally built in 247 AD. The temple was our last visit of the trip. We were lucky to be able to see Jing’an both during the day and at night.
After several days, we headed back to the HNC on the 高铁. Relaxed, rejuvenated, and grateful for some time off, we felt ready to dive back into our studies. It was nice to have time to explore other cities.
Written by Emily Rivera, Certificate '18