With PIB’s first summer back in China since the pandemic, we got the chance to do some exploring in our free time. On Monday, we had the opportunity to listen to Professor Hao Wu discuss his topic of expertise: from the Silk Road to the “Belt and Road.” After his lecture and dinner with my classmates, I encountered true Beijing 暴雨， i.e., torrential downpour. (Note: always carry an umbrella with you regardless of the weather forecast) After classes on Wednesday, we had the option of three local excursions for the afternoon, so I went to Jingshan Park (景山公园）with my teachers and classmates. 景山公园 contains the central point of Beijing city and a wonderful overview of the Forbidden City (故宫). Once we finished our weekly test on Friday, my friends and I took the high-speed train to Tianjin (only 30 minutes)! After an excruciatingly long hour spent trying to find our hotel (turns out it was a 民宿), we checked out the night market alongside 海河 for some small bites to eat. The next day, we checked out the Italian and Cultural districts where we enjoyed some delicious pasta and pizza before heading back to Beijing.