Hiking and Hiking Buddies

Tiger Leaping Gorge: hands down, the number one highlight of my travels.

The Yangtze winds lazily through terraced fields near Qiaotou, where Rob, our new friend Sandian, and I started our hike.



But after a series of switchbacks, we were near the heart of one of the world's deepest river canyons.



We had amazing views of 玉龙雪山, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.



The views were dizzyingly gorgeous and the company could not have been better. By chance Rob and I encountered, at the trailhead, the coolest Chinese college student I've ever met. Way cooler than my students.

Most foreign teachers follow the general rule that high school students will have the maturity of American middle school students, and college students will have the maturity of American high school students. This isn't true in all cases, obviously, but studying for the 高考/College Entrance Exam, then for the College English Test, then for the GRE, or whatever other test is required leaves students with little time to develop as a member of society through volunteer work, a job, or a leadership position. Although some of my students are members of the Student Union, almost none have jobs, and few have traveled solo or off the beaten track. They like to play computer games in their free time.

In contrast, Sandian is a 19-year-old college sophomore from Hunan, and he's been almost everywhere in China (and I don't think his family is rich). Right now he's saving money (through part-time jobs as a waiter and a salesman, among other things) to go to Tibet and Xinjiang, the last places on his China list. Then he's thinking Africa and Europe. He studies journalism with the goal of covering the Middle East. Most of my students wouldn't even know what Hostelling International is, but Sandian is a member. Tiger Leaping Gorge was his first time to "徒步“ or "go on foot" but I wouldn't have guessed it. With his cheerful personality, adventuresome spirit, and large supply of dried yak meat, Sandian was an excellent addition to our small team. I'm going to have to make an effort to keep in touch, because it's so rare that you meet a young Chinese traveler of his type.