Language China program leaders, Will and Gloria, reflect on a day filled with local traditions, delicious food, and unforgettable moments in the mountains of China.
Today offered our group perfect blend of early-morning nature, rich cultural immersion, hands-on culinary fun, and a bit of mountaintop cardio. Here is how we spent one of the most vibrant days of our program so far, told step-by-step through a day we won’t soon forget.
Early Morning Rose Picking
We kicked off the morning just as the sun was starting to burn off the mountain mist. The air was incredibly crisp, and the hillsides were alive with the sweet, intoxicating scent of fresh roses. Armed with small woven baskets and wearing protective gloves, we headed directly into the rose fields. We learned to gently pinch the base of the blooms to harvest them at their peak without damaging the delicate plants. Looking out over the steep, dramatic valley slopes with our baskets full of bright pink petals was an incredibly peaceful way to wake up and connect with the landscape.
Traditional Weaving and Costumes with the Grandmas
Next, we transitioned from the fields to the village to connect with some local traditions. We sat down with the local grandmas to watch them weave traditional Tibetan belts, and the level of focus and muscle memory required for this craft was absolutely mind-blowing. Using a traditional hand-loom setup, they worked vibrant, multi-colored threads into tight, stunning geometric patterns with effortless speed. Afterward, the grandmas generously let us try on some of their beautifully adorned traditional Tibetan costumes. Between the elaborate headpieces, gorgeous patterned belts, and fur-trimmed robes, we felt incredibly honored—and naturally, we had to strike some dramatic, playful poses against the white village walls.
Kitchen Chemistry: Rose Buns and Rose Milk Tea
Remember those roses we picked first thing in the morning? It was time to head into the kitchen and turn them into something delicious. We started by learning the art of making steamed buns, rolling out the dough and filling them with a sweet, aromatic rose-petal paste before carefully pleating them for the giant metal steamers. While the buns were cooking, we gathered around a large clay pot to brew fresh rose milk tea. We watched the tea leaves, rich milk, and dried rosebuds simmer together into a creamy, comforting brew that paired perfectly with our freshly steamed, fragrant rose buns.
Summit Hike and Mountaintop Ti Jianzi (踢毽子)
With our bellies full of sweet rose treats, we took on a challenging hike to the very top of the ridge. The trail was steep and tested our legs, but the panoramic views of the terraced green mountains made every single step worth the effort. Once we reached the peak, we unpacked a traditional Chinese shuttlecock for a lively game of 踢毽子 (Ti Jianzi). Trying to keep the shuttlecock airborne at high altitudes turned out to be the ultimate test of coordination and lung capacity, resulting in plenty of laughter, missed kicks, and highly dramatic saves.
Winding Down at Brother Gu’s (Gu 大哥) Restaurant
To wrap up an incredibly active day, we headed to Gu 大哥 (Brother Gu’s) Restaurant for a well-deserved feast. After a long day of walking, weaving, and playing, sitting down to a table overflowing with steaming, freshly prepared local dishes was pure heaven. The warmth of the hospitality, the incredible flavors of the fresh mountain ingredients, and the shared laughter as we talked about our favorite moments made for the absolute perfect finale to Day 12.
—Will & Gloria
To learn more about our high school Language China program, click here!
