A Graduation Trip Across China That I’ll Never Forget

I had wanted to visit China for a long time, so when my university friends suggested taking a graduation trip together, I immediately said yes. We didn’t want a trip where we only rushed from one famous place to another. We wanted to experience the food, the culture, the cities, and the small moments that we would still laugh about years later.

Looking back, this trip became much more than we expected. China felt completely different from what we had imagined from videos online. It was modern but full of history, busy but peaceful, and every city seemed to have its own personality.

Our journey started in Guangzhou, and it was a great introduction to China. At first, the city felt a little overwhelming because everything was so lively. But after walking around Shamian Island and seeing the old European-style buildings mixed with modern streets, we slowly started to understand the charm of the city.

Of course, the biggest challenge for us was the food. We wanted to try everything. Every time our guide recommended a local restaurant, we would say, “Okay, just one more dish.” Somehow, that always turned into a table full of food. My friend was always the first person to try something new, while I was usually the one asking, “Wait, what exactly is this?”

We still joke about how we kept saying we were full but somehow continued ordering more. Trying authentic Chinese food together became one of the best memories of the trip.

One of the most unforgettable experiences was visiting Foshan. Before this trip, I didn’t know much about the city, but watching the Lion Dance Performance completely changed my impression. The energy, the music, and the atmosphere made it feel like we were seeing a real part of Chinese culture instead of just watching a performance for tourists.

Later, we went to Gulong Canyon, and that was when the trip became more adventurous. Walking on the glass walkway above the mountains sounded exciting when we planned it, but standing there in real life was another story. My friend kept saying, “I’m totally fine,” while holding onto the railing the whole time. Of course, we took pictures of him because we knew we would use them to tease him forever.

After that, we arrived in Shenzhen, which showed us a completely different side of China. The city was full of skyscrapers, technology, and modern energy. What surprised me was how the old and new parts of the city existed together. One moment you are looking at a futuristic skyline, and the next you are walking through a historic street.

The most relaxing part of our trip was probably Hangzhou. After several busy cities, walking beside West Lake felt like pressing a reset button. We slowed down, talked more, and didn’t feel the need to rush anywhere. Sitting by the lake with my friends, watching the sunset and chatting about our future after graduation, was actually one of my favorite memories.

Finally, we arrived in Shanghai, which was the perfect place to end our journey. The city was huge, bright, and full of energy. Standing by The Bund at night and seeing the lights across the river was something I had only seen in photos before. But experiencing it with my friends made it completely different.

We also visited Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, where everything suddenly became quieter. After spending time in busy cities, walking along the canals and old streets gave us a chance to slow down. We even forgot to check our phones for a while, which honestly doesn’t happen very often.

When I think back to this journey, the places themselves were only part of the memory. What I remember most are the small moments: laughing together in the car, trying food we couldn’t pronounce, getting lost for a few minutes and turning it into a funny story, and taking hundreds of random photos that we probably won’t organize but will never delete.

This trip changed the way I saw China travel. Before coming here, I thought I knew what China was like from social media. But being there in person was completely different. From traditional culture to modern cities, from local food to unforgettable landscapes, China gave us far more memories than we expected.

I came home with a camera full of photos, a lot of funny stories, and the feeling that this definitely won’t be my last visit to China.