Written by: Aiman Javed
Posted on: October 14, 2019 | 
| 中文
The Pakistan-China Institute Representatives at the Forbidden City (Photography by Ruet Elahi)
“Wo shi Bajistan ren,” “I am from Pakistan,” became our catchphrase during a two week long stay in Beijing.
Recently, a group of thirty individuals from Pakistan embarked on a two-week long trip to Beijing, the capital of China. The programme was titled, “Training Program for Teachers of Chinese Language from Overseas.” Other professionals such as web designers, accountants, social media activists and journalists, had also been invited to join the delegation. I, along with four colleagues, embarked on this journey.
Arranged by the Beijing International Chinese College (BICC), and sponsored by the Chinese embassy, the itinerary involved Chinese language classes, cultural workshops, lectures on Chinese history and national conditions, as well as sight-seeing trips to heritage sites such as Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.
The Temple of Heaven (Photography by Ruet Elahi)
We were greeted at the Beijing airport by Wong and Alice, our hosts and organizers, who took us to the Italian Agrilandia Farm, our home for the next two weeks. After a quick lunch, we were driven to an opening ceremony at the BICC campus. Following brief introductions, participants were allowed to explore the contemporary campus that featured indoor sports facilities, and a brilliant Chinese library.
The next morning, our hosts gave us an extensive briefing on Beijing transportation and Chinese currency, so that we could navigate the city on our own. Our first class involved a training session in basic martial arts postures by a female instructor, and we were even allowed to use traditional weapons. For dinner, we tried Peking Duck at the nearby Lailai Restaurant. The crispy and irresistible duck was wrapped in thin crepes, with some soy, leeks and cucumber.
One of the more interesting classes were about making necklaces out of Chinese knots, a decorative tradition from the Tang and Song Dynasty. In the afternoon, we tried the traditional art of paper cutting, an art form which dated back to the 6th century. The designs we practiced included the panda, butterfly and a chain of friends.
The Long Corridor (credits to beijingbuzz)
On Friday, the Chinese language classes began. We slowly began to grasp the basics of Chinese conversation through repetition, practice, and interactive activities. Particularly notable was the lesson in pronunciation, that helped us understand the tonal nature of the Chinese language. Finally, we felt ready to take on the city. Taking the bus and subway, we made our way to the 798 Art District, which enthralled us with its art galleries and graffitied walls. The soulful music of quirky cafes, and the tiny shops sold novelty items, such as handmade pottery.
For our official tours, our hosts took us to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hou Hai Lake and Tea Tasting at the Bell Tower. While Tiananmen is the largest square in the world, it’s also significant for the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong. Meanwhile, the Forbidden City, constructed from 1406 – 1420, consists of courtyards upon courtyards which house numerous palaces. In the Bell Tower, we tried authentic oolong, jasmine, green and slimming tea in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. We then walked along a street full of hutongs (traditional Chinese houses), until we finally came across the beautiful Hou Hai lake.
Hou Hai Lake (Photography by Ruet Elahi)
Our week concluded with a visit to the Summer Palace, which we undertook ourselves on a Sunday. After buying a ticket, we walked inside, and began climbing the Longevity Hill, until we reached the Sea of Wisdom. From there on, we went down the trail and reached the Long Corridor. Perhaps, the most memorable of all were the Marble Boat, a lakeside pavilion shaped like a large ship, and the Hall for Listening to Orioles, a restaurant known for its imperial Han cuisine.
As a special treat, our organizers treated us to a trip to the Temple of Heaven, which is as old as the Forbidden City. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, The Imperial Vault of Heaven, The Circular Mound Altar were all visually stunning and deeply powerful to witness. Later on, we were taken to the Pearl Market and Silk Market, both of which are bargaining havens for avid shoppers.
Hongqiao Pearl Market (credits to travelandleisure)
The highlight of our trip was the visit to the Great Wall. Our organizers took us to Badaling, which wasn’t too crowded at that time, so we could really gaze out. The pure splendour of the surrounding hills, the echoes of our voices, and the very wall itself spoke to us.
Our concluding ceremony let us introduce Pakistan to our Chinese organizers, through presentations and performances. Ms. Sualeha Abad, a Pakistan-China Institute representative, presented her beautifully written letter to Beijing, which moved our organizers to tears. Mr. Wang, the principal of the college said, “No candidate has ever captured Beijing so wonderfully.” It seems as if Beijing will always remain in our hearts.
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