This summer, 10 students and two faculty members are traveling to China to enhance their Chinese language skills while experiencing the country’s vast and diverse cultural landscape. Please enjoy this next blog post below from Tamutenda ’26 as she shares her awe-filled experience exploring Beijing’s Forbidden City, where history came alive through majestic architecture, quiet throne rooms, and bustling street markets just beyond the ancient walls.
I woke up early in the morning. I hadn’t had much sleep, but it was already the next day! My excitement overwhelmed my exhaustion. Today we would be going to the Forbidden City. I had heard of it and seen pictures in pamphlets prior. Sun dancing on golden shingles, intricate patterns carved in wood serving as cornices, simultaneously supporting and adding to the magnificence of the site.
The main structure that housed the throne, didn’t have much light because they wanted to limit sun damage and preserve the throne. So, through squinting eyes and the dim lighting, I could see generations of Emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties ascend the throne. I could see their servants, running around in the courtyards, busy with the emperor’s orders. I felt the soles of my feet mold into the dark grey stones that made the walkways with every step. The stones contrasted with the colorful architecture—accentuating its magnificence. There was an additional marvel, a moat that surrounded the city.
There were museums full of furniture—I could imagine the opulence in which most of the Emperors and country officials worked and lived. The Forbidden city feels truly forbidden. Commoners, in ancient times, weren’t allowed to access the city without special permissions, hence the name Forbidden City. Outside of the city’s enclosure there are perfectly preserved housed from the time of the Qing and Ming dynasties that people live in. It’s a bustling community with stores on every block. I tried my hand at bargaining a bit with my friend Cam and we were embarrassingly unsuccessful—garnering an unbothered ‘’算了‘’ from one of the shop owners. It appears that in Beijing it is much harder to bargain.
All things accounted for I’m really grateful for this opportunity to see and explore China with my peers.
