Hi, Im Colletta Smith from Fulford. Ive just spent a week in Beijing on my first ever trip to China, with two other friends from university Jo and Sarah. Sarahs been studying Chinese here for a year as part of her course, and so is our much needed translator!
This week has passed in a whirl, exploring this completely different world. Oh my goodness its hot! Beijing is really a city of contrasts, the very centre is the old section and where all the official buildings are.  | | Colletta peering out from behind a pillar, with JO behind, at the Forbidden City |
Outside the ring road though the city is growing so rapidly, with huge skyrises offices and apartments, and 8 lane motorways everywhere you look. The forbidden city right at the heart is so hard to capture. Its vast, and is still this separate, secluded, ancient world. Leaving the city you hit the strangest formal, oppressive atmosphere of Tiananmen Square. I was so moved walking round imagining the shattering events that have taken place in this giant square. Watching the people file past preserved Chairman Mao with such reverence is so hard to understand. Part of me just wanted to scream.  | | Colletta on the Great Wall, Sumutai |
After a slightly hair-raising car journey, with only a few minor scrapes, we made it to the quiet section of the Great Wall at Sumutai. Id heard a lot about the wall, but seeing it exceeded all my expectations. The hills around were covered in mist, and the wall snakes along the very highest mountain ridge. Its truly awe inspiring. So on Saturday we take the night train south to Pingyao. Its been a fantastic week, and Im really looking forward to our packed programme for the next three, bring on the adventure!
Could you be a student diarist?
If you hail from North Yorkshire or are studying in the county and think you could squeeze out a few hundred words about once a month (more if you want to!) get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] | 
