What would you do if you had an entire week off during your study abroad? At the beginning of October, China celebrates 国庆节, or “National Holiday,” with a week-long break known as Golden Week. I used this time to maximize the opportunities that being abroad provides and to say yes to life’s most spontaneous adventures. Now, I’m excited to share my travel stories and lessons learned from Golden Week!
Hi, everyone! I’m Avia, a junior studying Psychology and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, I’m studying abroad in Shanghai at Fudan University. Throughout my time here, I remind myself that I’ll never again be 20 years old in China for this long, so I might as well do it all!
For Golden Week, I explored the cities of Nanjing, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie. Each city was unique, offering rich history, fascinating cultural insights, and life-changing food. I began my travels in Nanjing with friends I met through WorldStrides. We visited Niushan Mountain, explored the city center, and paid our respects at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit the Nanjing Museum because tickets were sold out due to the holiday crowds—something I didn’t expect when traveling in China. But I grew to appreciate that aspect; no matter where I went, I was surrounded by people, which made it feel like I was never alone.
The girlies at Niushan Mountain
The weather was perfect, with sunny blue skies and a light breeze to cool us down. One memorable moment was meeting an elderly Chinese woman who was lost looking for a site. I was lost too, so we walked together until we found it. We ended up spending the next three hours laughing and exploring the area, a wholesome experience I’ll remember for a long time.
Sweet grandma I met in Nanjing
After Nanjing, I traveled to Chongqing, which held a special significance for me because it’s the city where I was adopted. When I learned about having a week off, I knew I wanted to find a balance between being a tourist and deepening my connection to China. Although I’d passed through Chongqing before, I never had the chance to explore it as I’d always dreamed. This trip gave me that opportunity. I spent five days in Chongqing, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
The city is a blend of old architecture and cutting-edge technology, making it feel like I was living in the future. I loved being in a place that resonated with my values, as I appreciate the past while always looking forward. The city felt like a crossroads where iconic architectural styles from Singapore, London, New York City, and many other places converged. While I was awed by the city’s beauty, being there stirred up complex emotions. I felt both connected to and distant from this city that had played such a pivotal role in my life.
One highlight was meeting up with a friend from Fudan University who was also in Chongqing for the holiday. We spent a day together exploring the city and capped it off with a meal of the famously spicy Chongqing hotpot. It was the spiciest food I’d ever had, but I wanted the full experience, and Chongqing hotpot is definitely an experience! The intense heat left my mouth tingling, but it added to the thrill of embracing the city’s food culture.
I had Chongqing HotPot with a local family, and we got to see the skyline afterwards!
To decompress from the emotional experience, I sought peace in nature for the last leg of my Golden Week journey in Zhangjiajie, known for its famous “Avatar” mountains. The scenery was spectacular, with clear waters and beautiful hiking trails. I hiked a lot, and the natural beauty was worth every step.
Overall, being abroad can be challenging. But when opportunities arise to explore new places, I recommend making the most of them. It’s essential to plan ahead but also leave room for spontaneity—whether that means meeting new people or getting lost. Those moments are when you create the best memories, ones that will forever be a part of my study abroad experience.
Meeting new friends and building friendships while abroad has been incredibly rewarding. These relationships not only give you the chance to learn more about the country and culture from a local perspective, but they also help strengthen your bonds in ways you never expected. The shared experiences, like eating a spicy hotpot in Chongqing, make every moment of this journey even more meaningful.