This spring break, Shen Laoshi, Mr. Lopez, and Mr. Ziff took 19 boys to China. We visited Hong Kong first, then traveled to Shenzhen in mainland China before flying to Hangzhou and Shanghai. The trip was filled with exciting moments and perspective-changing experiences. Over the course of the trip, we had six tour guides, all of whom were incredibly kind. Michael, our main guide, helped organize all of our trips in mainland China and made the trip more immersive. Tony, our guide in Hangzhou, was super funny, and Kathy, our guide in Shanghai, was really nice and knew the city really well. On our first day in Hong Kong, we explored a local temple and a famous police station where famous movies, including Jackie Chan films, have been shot. We then visited the highest point in Hong Kong and took in the full view of the city. The view from the peak was astonishing. The city’s skyscrapers, set against the beautiful lake in the background, created an unforgettable contrast. We spent a couple of hours taking pictures and shopping at the plaza at the top before heading back to the hotel.
When we arrived in Shenzhen, the first steps we took out of the train station were astonishing. The city looked incredibly clean and vibrant. Nearly all of the cars were electric, and futuristic technology was everywhere. We visited the night markets and experienced the high-pressure environment of bargaining with sales associates. When asked about how he felt when talking to the locals, Henry Duffy ’29 said, “Meeting people who didn’t speak any English was a surreal experience, and not being able to communicate with them easily was something I thought would never happen.” During our stay at the night markets, we bought replica watches, replica clothing, and more. We also ordered KFC, which was delivered by drone, and got to live in the futuristic reality that people in China experience every day. The next day, we went to a tech market and saw technology from all over the world for a fraction of the price. Many kids bought fake iPhones and fake watches, and Mr. Ziff bought his own fake AirPod Max that was apparently “better than the real one,” even though airport security thought otherwise. That afternoon, we had lunch at a local restaurant and ordered a pigeon that came with the head still intact. Brain, eyes, beak, and all, Steven Azzun ’30 and Stephane Durocher ’28 took it down together. When questioned about his unique dining choices, Stephane Durocher ’28 said, “My experience in China was actually really great. I got to try Pigeon, which was strangely delicious, and it made me realize that genuine Chinese food is miles better than American Chinese food.”
In Huanzhou, we visited a famous mountain temple and saw huge statues of the Buddha and other gods. We hiked up a mountain and got to see hills and hills of fresh green tea leaves at the top, which we used when we arrived at the tea village hidden deeper in the mountains. Later in the day, we visited Alibaba’s headquarters and learned about the company’s future and the importance of asking AI the right questions rather than having it do your work for you. We took the bus to a lake in an old village and saw old family homes and other small traditional Chinese architecture. We rode on a boat that was paddled by a man in the back, using the rudder to propel it. After a calming boat ride, we headed to Shanghai and visited the city’s tallest building, the Shanghai Tower. We took an elevator to the top and got to see a bird’s-eye view of the city. The elevators in the Shanghai Tower are incredible; they climb at a rate of about 67 feet per second, and it only takes 55 seconds to reach the 118th floor. That night, we walked the Bund. The Bund is the main walkway offering an incredible view of the Shanghai Skyline. At night, the skyline of Shanghai lights up, creating a rainbow of lights. After an hour or two of taking pictures and enjoying the view, we headed back to the hotel for our final night in China.
Overall, the China trip was filled with exciting experiences, eye-opening moments, and educational adventures. During the trip, I learned more about China than I could have ever imagined, and I was not the only one. As Ryan Azzun ’28 said, “The China trip was a great experience, and it gave a great opportunity to interact with the locals as well as people from our school that I didn’t know before.” From the bizarre food to the advanced technology, it is clear that China is one of the most fascinating countries ever, and if you ever have the opportunity to travel there, I strongly suggest you take it.
