The Legacy of Lidice in Michelin - October 2024
- Dany Ludvíková
- Sep 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 21
BEIJING – Part One
Dear readers,
I have finally graduated, and my student life has officially come to an end. Before I tell you more about what the graduation ceremony in the UK looks like, I would like to take you back in time to a place that completely changed my perspective on the world. Back to 2015, during my first year of high school, I had the chance to visit China, specifically its capital – Beijing.
Since I was little, I have dreamed of visiting China and walking on the Great Wall of China. When I got the opportunity, I grabbed it and embarked on an adventure that forever changed my life. Even though it has been nearly ten years, I still get goosebumps when I remember stepping onto that enormous Emirates Airbus for the first time. That was an experience I often think about, especially during my short flights between Birmingham and Prague.
Upon landing at the enormous Beijing airport, where underground trains connect the terminals, a bus took us to the Beijing Jingson Vocational High School campus. It was the first time I had lived in a student accommodation, but compared to the ones in Europe, it felt more like a hotel with beautiful, spacious en suite rooms.
We had quite a busy schedule full of Chinese cuisine lectures and tea ceremonies, and we even had a few lessons in Chinese to learn some basics. I somehow felt like I became part of a world that was so different yet beautiful.
Beijing is China's capital city, covering approximately 16,000 square kilometres and is home to more than 21 million people. It is the centre of Chinese culture, with a rich history that includes traditional arts, theatre, literature, and gastronomy. It is also a city of many contrasts – modern skyscrapers stand alongside ancient landmarks. Apart from the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, Beijing is home to other significant sites like the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, and modern structures such as the Bird's Nest Stadium.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Great Wall of China. It looks so majestic, winding its way through valleys, mountains, hills, and forests, often covered in fog. Stretching over 21,000 kilometres from Dandong in the northeast to Lop Nur in the west, the Wall was built to protect China from invaders. It's a monument that leaves you in awe, not just because of its length but because of the history embedded in each stone. Interestingly, the Wall was built using different materials, including stone, bricks, wood, and clay, depending on the region. Some sections were even constructed using rice mixed with lime (calcium oxide, CaO) as a binder.
My excitement was slowly but surely fading with each step because if you want to get to the Great Wall, you literally have to climb your way up hundreds of steps, each with different spacing and size. But once you reach the top, all your exhaustion disappears. Even in the fog, rain, and snow, it's a breathtaking experience. History is all around you.
I remember building a little snowman there. Suddenly, a group of tourists from different parts of the world appeared, taking photos of my snowman, laughing, and chatting as if we had known each other our whole lives. These memories still warm my heart – moments when I felt connected to people with whom I had nothing in common except for the shared joy of that moment.
China was not only a cultural shock but also an unforgettable adventure that showed me how diverse and fascinating the world is.
I have so many more experiences from Beijing and its surroundings that I'd love to share with you. In future newsletter posts, we'll take a closer look at the Forbidden City and our Chinese cooking lessons at the school.
In the November edition, I'll take you back to Birmingham and describe what a graduation ceremony at a British university looks like, as well as explore the city.
