Written by: Saliha Agha
Posted on: May 06, 2019 | 
| 中文
A page from a delegate's experience diary
On the 23th of April, the Pakistan-China Institute took 15 delegates from 8 different cities of Pakistan, spanning from Gilgit to Karachi, on a trip to China, as a reward for winning an Essay Competition organized by the Institute earlier last year. Delegates toured the historic city of Beijing, and the magical city of Shanghai in what were 6 incredible days of adventure and learning.
To celebrate the profound friendship between Pakistan and China, the Pakistan-China Institute, with the assistance of the Chinese Embassy, arranged an Essay Writing Competition, the topic of which was, “To China, with Love”. In a love letter to China, Pakistanis from every part of the country and all walks of life expressed both in Urdu and English, their feelings and sentiments towards China. The essays consisted of personal experiences, outlook and knowledge on China, with suggestions on how to further deepen people-to–people connections between the two countries. Winners were awarded cash prizes and top 3 position holders were taken on culturally immersive tours to two prominent Chinese cities.
On day one of the tour, the delegates were taken on a special study tour of the renowned Tsinghua University. At the university, they were given the exclusive opportunity to meet with Professor Li Xiguang, senior journalist, Councillor, and Executive Dean of Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication, and Director of Tsinghua University Center for Pakistan Studies, to discuss the state of Pakistan and China relations and the role of the youth in shaping national cultural and political narratives. The delegates were then allowed a chance to interact with Pakistani students pursuing higher education at the university, and Chinese students specializing in Pakistan communication studies. The interactive session was appreciated across the board, as delegates acknowledged that discoursing on their ideas with intellectuals in China was a rare and worthwhile experience. Delegates then toured the beautiful and scenic university campus, taking pictures along the way.
The second day of the China tour was highlighted by a remarkable trip to the legendary Great Wall of China. Upon arrival to the destination, delegates were astounded by the vastness of the wall that was built for fortification in the Qin dynasty, and which could be seen in every direction one’s head would turn. The trek to the very top was most definitely an arduous task, albeit a gratifying one. Upon conquering the seemingly impossible and countless steps to the highest point of the rung, the delegation raised their Pakistani flag in pride, and shouted, “We love you Pakistan!” Some trekkers from the delegation were even given gold medals by locals on their way down for achieving the accomplishment of climbing the great wall. Exhausted, the delegates were then taken to eat a delightful traditional meal before proceeding to the enchanted Summer Palace. An infinite ensemble of lakes, gardens and fortresses, the Summer Palace was a blissful destination for anyone who seeks an amorous escapade into China’s past. An idyllic boat ride across the Kunming Lake exposed the lustrous greenery of the imperial gardens pocketing ancient structures with thousands of rooms from the Qing Dynasty. The day ended with a pleasurable tea-making class where delegates not only learnt how to make a perfect cup of traditional Chinese tea, but also got a taste of assorted flavors of tea, and took some home as presents too.
Just when they thought they had seen it all, by the third day of the tour, the delegates’ excitement peaked, when they visited the Forbidden City, a former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty. Its red walls and yellow glazed roof tiles can be intimidating for any visitor, but these Pakistanis treaded every courtyard and corridor of this palace complex. The delegates then voyaged through years-worth of chronicles, while standing at the Tiananmen Square, a site of tremendous cultural significance in Chinese history. After saturating their minds with a myriad of sagas, the delegates then unwounded by indulging in a rather fun and relaxing, shopping excursion at the famous Pearl Market, where they learnt the knack of bargaining with local shop-keepers for souvenirs, and cheap buys.
The next two days presented a stark contrast between old and the new. The delegates were transported at a rate of 350 kilometers per hour, on a high-speed train from Beijing to the city of Shanghai. Bustling in business, life and activity, Shanghai truly proved to be the New York of the East. When delegates emerged onto the dock of their designated cruise ship, their expressions were unforgettable, and their sentimental state: flabbergasted. A moment of silence was observed for the sheer beauty of the magnificent skyline of Shanghai. The next one hour of the cruise was spent in awe of the staggering splendour of the picturesque vistas of the city, and the colonial reminiscences on the waterfront along the Bund.
The last day in Shanghai featured a trip to the Chenghuang Temple and the Yuyuan Garden, which required a long walk through winding streets, and a zig-zag bridge. The delegates enjoyed their Zen feeding large goldfish and reveling in the quiet architecture built once for the Dragon Lady. Departing from the antiquities of the Old City, and transferred into Shanghai’s glitzy financial district of Lujiazui, buildings of overwhelming heights lorded over the group of spellbound delegates. The delegates were soon ushered into one such titanic structure, the Jin Mao Tower, where an elevator rocketed its passengers at lightspeed to the 88th story of the building, from where the entirety of the city could be seen through a 360-degree view observation deck.
Such distant and dizzying altitudes called for a comforting meal that tasted close to home. After another day out in the city, delegates enjoyed a delicious local traditional Muslim meal at a prominent Xinjiang cuisine restaurant in Jing’an district of Shanghai. The elating atmosphere stirred excitement among delegates who also partook in the traditional dance performed by a native Uyghur dancer at the restaurant, during the course of dinner. One delegate was quite proud to say that eating in China has taught him a new skill: how to work chopsticks!
Over the course of 6 days, the delegation recorded their unbelievable journeys in the form of experience diaries, for all times to come. They held a particular appreciation for the hospitable and well-informed tour guides and embassy representative that allowed the Chinese experience to be easily receivable and comprehensible. At the culmination of the trip, the delegation presented these supporting friends with traditional gifts from Pakistan. The China tour of the Pakistani delegates will remain forever outstanding. The experiences gained, the memories made, and the love shared, was truly extraordinary. It would not be an exaggeration to say that 15 Pakistanis have left a piece of their hearts in the wondrous country that is China.
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