By Katie Imberhorne School, West Sussex

Imberhorne School Reporters visited Beijing for the Olympics

Imberhorne School's Beijing Trip was sadly over when we returned to Gatwick airport on 20 August 2008.

Though we were exhausted from our trip, one thing stayed close in our minds - the lasting memories of not only of the things we saw but of the amazing people we interacted with on our stay; our peers as well as younger students who shared their love of their country in entertaining performances.

It was strange that we were so many thousands of miles from home but we all felt as safe and as comfortable as if we were at home.

Looking back through the pictures and video clips of our adventure in China the Great Wall and the Olympics were clearly the best two days of the trip.

Pupils tackled the Great Wall of China

The Wall was such a fantastic experience, when you paused on the steps to look around to see the mountain in the distance and the wall snaking off in and out of view, it was just magical.

In China they say "you are not a hero until you have climbed the Great Wall" and it is true, all of us afterwards felt a sense of achievement if you got to the top or stopped half way. It was an amazing day.

Not only did we get the once in a life time chance to go to China we had the opportunity to see the Olympic Games.

The atmosphere was unbelievable. When everyone cheered as the runners sprinted off around the corner, the stadium shook with excitement.

We were right at the back and people would come from all over the stadium to have their pictures taken and to sing along with our tune in order to cheer on Great Britain.

London 2012 is going to find it hard to match the space and the atmosphere that was built in Beijing.

It will be hard for any country to beat the brilliant opening and closing ceremonies that China put on for us. London will try and who knows how it will turn out in 2012.

We only saw China through a very small window but every view that we watched go by - be it in the Forbidden City or the modern streets of Beijing - showed us China's love and devotion to the land that they called their home.

This excellent trip could not have been the great success that it was without our Chinese partner school. Our thanks go to Mrs Murray, Miss Wood, Mr Celani, Mr Swan and Mr Murray who made this trip so memorable to us, the students, and to the teachers.

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