This year’s Experiencing China trip allowed the Year 9 and 10 students the opportunity to explore unique parts of Fujian Province.

We enjoyed the natural beauty of the area through outdoor activities such as picking oolong tea, climbing Wuyishan, and drifting down the river on bamboo rafts.

Touring Xiamei, a village with buildings from the Qing and Ming dynasties, we stepped back in time and could appreciate the intricate stone and wood carvings in the ancient architecture as well as the quiet, unhurried lives that the people still enjoy there.

We experienced the same serenity in visiting an even older mountain village built in the distinctive circular style of the Hakkan tulou.

In addition to witnessing these peaceful remnants of Fujian’s ancient history, we also learned of its recent history on Gulangyu in Xiamen, a bustling island with Eastern and Western buildings mingling together, a reflection of the significant shared history of the place.