Never did I expect, when I started the Master of Architecture course at Arts University Bournemouth just last year, that an opportunity would arise for me to travel independently nearly 6,000 miles away to China.

Through a fully funded place supported by both AUB and the Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE), along with China’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, I spent two weeks immersed in a summer school programme.

Designed to build a platform for international youth to engage with contemporary China and Jiangxi, the programme blended academic dialogue with on-site experiences and hands-on traditional workshops, including calligraphy, ceramics and tea-making.

After applying for the scholarship and successfully securing a spot, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Since it was my first time travelling alone, I decided to make the most of the trip by extending it.

I flew out 10 days early, first exploring Shanghai. This was a city on a scale unlike anything I had ever experienced. It offered an eclectic blend of architectural styles, starting with the atmospheric Former French Concession. Characterised by leafy, tree-lined avenues, mid-century European architecture, and a lively café culture, the district retains a distinct historical charm stemming from its period of French administration between 1849 and 1943.

The most stark architectural contrast, however, is found along The Bund. Looking across this 1.5 km riverfront promenade, you see a grand row of historic colonial-era buildings on one side, directly facing the futuristic Lujiazui skyline on the other.

Seven people sit around a restaurant table with plates of food and drinks, in a booth beneath wall posters.

A hot pot meal with four divided broths in a table-top cooker, surrounded by plates of sliced meat, leafy greens, sauces and chopsticks.

A multi-tiered traditional Chinese temple or pagoda with red and dark roofs stands at the top of broad stone steps under a cloudy sky.

A hillside village of traditional stone houses with tiled roofs, set among dense green trees beneath a partly cloudy blue sky.

A night skyline of illuminated skyscrapers reflected on dark water, with a tall tower displaying blue lights and digital billboards.

A panoramic view of a dense city skyline beside a wide harbour, with high-rise buildings, distant hills and large clouds overhead.

A crowded harbour filled with moored fishing boats and small vessels at dusk, with cranes and flagpoles visible along the waterfront.

After spending a few days in Shanghai, I boarded a sleeper train heading south to Hong Kong. It is an incredibly dense city that has built on every available inch of land (even reclaiming more than the sea) between the steep green mountains surrounding the city and the waterfront of Victoria Harbour. You would never tire of exploring the bustling streets of Central, taking the tram up to Victoria Peak to take in the stunning views or catching a ferry to the neighbouring islands for a swim in the sea.

From there, I headed to Nanchang City in Jiangxi province to join the summer school. The entire experience was more transformative than I could have imagined. Stepping into the unknown gave me a whole new sense of independence and confidence. While solo travelling was fantastic on its own, joining the summer school, which brought together nearly 200 students from over 20 countries, created an extraordinary cultural melting pot.

Having the opportunity to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage in open discussions was easily my favourite part. Beyond learning tai chi, making dumplings, or going to recommended late-night hot pot restaurants with our Chinese friends, the constant intercultural exchange was uniquely valuable.

Although the other AUB students and I had only met briefly for coffee back in the UK, we quickly bonded alongside our individual Chinese partners. Coming from completely different academic course backgrounds, from creative writing to film, the trip created a brilliant bridge between courses, allowing us to build lasting friendships through a shared experience.

I know we all returned immensely grateful to AUB for making such an experience possible. This trip was just one of many international opportunities available, and I strongly encourage anyone thinking about it to grab every opportunity that the university offers with both hands. It truly can be life-changing!

Xièxiè yuèdú (Thank you for reading)

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