At the end of March, 40 Rutlish School students and five members of the Geography department took part in an unforgettable trip to China. For many, it was their first time travelling so far from home, and over seven busy days, students explored famous landmarks, experienced daily life in major cities and deepened their understanding of China’s history, culture and geography.

After departing London on Friday 27 March, the group arrived in Beijing on Saturday morning and began exploring straight away. Highlights included the Summer Palace and a walking tour of the historic hutongs. Traditional Chinese meals quickly became a talking point, with most dishes shared communally on a Lazy Susan throughout the trip.

Sunday was an early start but a definite highlight, with a visit to the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Students were amazed by its scale and setting before continuing on to the Ming Tombs and a traditional tea ceremony. That evening, the group boarded an overnight sleeper train to Xi’an, an unforgettable experience despite the lack of sleep.

In Xi’an, students visited the Terracotta Army, learning about how the warriors were created and seeing them up close. Other highlights included cycling along the Ancient City Wall, visiting the Wild Goose Pagoda and exploring the lively Muslim Street market.

The final day back in Beijing included Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, followed by an acrobatics show and shopping along Wangfujing Street. The group returned to London on Thursday 2nd April, tired but full of memories. Throughout the trip, students were an absolute credit to Rutlish School, showing maturity, curiosity and enthusiasm at every stage.