This past weekend, I went hiking at Huangshan, also known as Yellow Mountain. It is one of China’s most famous and beautiful destinations. What started as a simple plan with one friend turned into a spontaneous group adventure. A couple of friends from Berkeley joined first. Then, someone from the TEAN program decided to come along. Finally, another TEAN scholar joined us the night before we left. The growing group added excitement to the trip and taught me how to stay flexible when plans change.
The journey began with challenges. One member of our group had their train ticket canceled just as we were boarding. This forced us to split up temporarily, but they managed to catch the next train. We reunited later that day, a reminder of how reliable and frequent trains are in China.
We spent the first afternoon exploring Huangshan’s city center. The old streets felt alive with charm, offering a mix of bookstores, restaurants, cafes, and mom-and-pop shops. It was fascinating to see these modern touches within such historic buildings.
That evening, we headed to a hotel closer to the mountain. Because of our last-minute additions, we faced another hurdle. We assumed we could squeeze everyone into two rooms, but the hotel had strict limits on room occupancy. After some quick problem-solving and help from fluent Chinese speakers in our group, we managed to rebook new rooms. To our surprise, we even received an upgrade! The family-owned hotel felt warm and welcoming, and the staff went out of their way to help us.
The next morning, we woke up at 4:30 AM to catch the sunrise at the mountain. The entrance was packed with people waiting for the gates to open at 6 o’clock. Unfortunately, another issue came up: One of our friends realized they had lost their passport. We spent about an hour looking for it before filing a report with security. Fortunately, the staff allowed us to enter with just our passport numbers.
When we finally reached the top, the view was incredible. For 15 minutes, we admired the sunrise and Huangshan’s iconic sea of clouds. Then, the weather changed, and heavy clouds rolled in. Reflecting on it later, I realized how important it is to savor those fleeting moments. We waited at the peak for over an hour, hoping the sky would clear, but instead, rain began to fall. Disappointed, we decided to head down early. Instead of taking the cable car, we opted to hike the three-hour descent. It was exhausting, and my legs felt sore for days afterward.
Before returning to Shanghai, we visited an ancient village nearby. Unlike other tourist areas, this village felt peaceful and authentic. We wandered through quiet streets, greeted friendly shop dogs, and enjoyed a delicious meal before heading to the train station. Thankfully, our friend could board the train with a photo of their passport.
This trip was far from perfect, but it was full of lessons. It reminded me to live in the moment and value the experience of being present, even when things don’t go as planned. It’s not always about what you see—it’s about who you’re with and the memories you make together.
Avia Weber, University of Pennsylvania, is studying abroad in Shanghai, China, with TEAN.
