Taoheng (Tao) Chen
Class of 2028
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Winterlude–Visiting China!
Because Dartmouth's quarters are 10 weeks long, our break starts early from Thanksgiving week all the way until the beginning of January 2025! I decided to book a flight to China and visit my family as well as check off the bucket list of areas I've always wanted to visit.
- No. 1
Sanfang Qixiang, Fuzhou
Sanfang Qixiang, literally translating to “three lanes and seven alleys”, is an area in Fuzhou featuring historical and cultural buildings that showcase indigenous Fuzhounese culture. I also got to wear Mamianqun—Mamian Skirt, which is the traditional clothing for Fuzhounese people! Walking around Sanfang Qixiang with Mamian Skirt feels like I’ve traveled back to ancient China. Being immersed in Chinese culture has inspired me to hopefully participate in a LSA at Dartmouth since I know that Dartmouth also partners with Beijing Normal University for LSAs!
- No. 2
Gushan, Fuzhou
China is also known for its mountainous terrains, and I got to hike one of them—Gushan! Fun fact, “Shan” means mountain, so the formal name in English is really Gu Mountain. From being involved in the, I am well-trained when it comes to hiking! The climb was around 2,000 feet and took us about 90 minutes. The mountain is also home to the local monk and their temple—I got to chat with them briefly along the way with local hikers. Overall, it was a great experience getting to connect with nature again after being away from Dartmouth!
- No. 3
The Forbidden City, Beijing
The Forbidden City hosted eras of emperors, concubines, and legacies as a royal palace. I went during the winter, so it wasn’t as crowded versus summer as it can get really popular—fun fact, the Forbidden City has a total of 9,703 rooms. If you were to live in one room every day from the moment you were born, you’d be 27 years old.
At the Forbidden City, I got to look at all of the architecture. My tour guide told me that balance plays a huge role in Chinese architecture—this is also something I had learned in Chinese 31, where my professor explained to me the traditional beliefs in Chinese culture! For example, in the column below, you will see that the pattern of the buildings alternates in dark and light colors.
Being at Dartmouth has made me more curious about travelling. Whether it’s through DOC trips or learning about LSA opportunities, I feel more courageous to trek around the world like major cities in China!
Posted 01/9/2025 at 9:00 AMAll List Posts
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