Ameena Gaji enjoys the sunset at the Great Wall in Beijing, on December 8, 2019 (COURTESY PHOTO)

Before coming to China, we all had our own ideas about China. I used to think that all Chinese were into martial arts. Also, due to the nation's advanced technology, I used to the think all tech-related gadgets and other electronics there would be very cheap.

As time went on, I came to realize that most of my initial ideas were false and proved merely mythical. However, the common belief that the Chinese people are hardworking is very true. During my first few months in China, I was surprised to see my colleagues in the lab spending almost all their time studying. I sometimes wondered whether they had any sort of social life, family time or even recreational outlets—off campus. However, now that I'm fully used to life here, I can confidently say that hard work, discipline, humility and perseverance are actually an indispensable part of Chinese culture.

It is fascinating to see how respectful the Chinese are toward their superiors, especially in the academic environment. I'm always amazed by the teacher-student relationship, particularly on Teacher's Day (September 10). This is the same form of respect you see on public transport where special seats are designated for the elderly, pregnant women, children, etc. Kindness blooms everywhere. From drivers patiently waiting for pedestrians to cross the road, to street-side fruit vendors giving you a wide smile just for uttering a standard ni hao. The amalgamation of these moral values, I believe, makes up the secret underlying China's exponential development.

One cannot speak about the impressive experiences in China without highlighting the advanced level of technology. Can you imagine someone's life in China without WeChat—one of the country's dominant multipurpose social media platforms? I, for one, absolutely cannot. It is a daily necessity for your payments, bookings, communication, and so on. Taobao, Alipay, Pinduoduo and your general waimai apps (for ordering takeout) make life faster and easier in China.

The Beijing subway, recently ranked as the world's largest metro network, is a technical masterpiece. It is a 727-km-long railway network with 428 stations and 64 interchanges. In 2025, it will form a 1,177-km underground traffic network with 30 lines. In addition, there are numerous high-speed trains connecting cities throughout the Chinese mainland. Train stations buzz with people and hasty activity, especially during festive periods with a high travel influx.

Beijing gets boiling hot in summer and icy cold in winter. My first wintertime experience wasn't too pleasant. Coming from a country with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, and a minimum one of 12 degrees, Beijing's winter shook me to the core–-well, bones. However, the snow is a sight to behold; all white and beautiful. Children, and even adults, venture outside to build snowmen, take pictures and have fun in the snow. Undoubtedly, my favorite season in Beijing is fall. The urban scenery turns gold, giving the city a complete makeover. A lot of photographers and people visit the omnipresent parks during this period.

Another impressive thing about China is the diversity of tourist attractions. My favorite is the famous Great Wall; what a fabulous place to be. The infrastructure itself is the definition of hard work. It traces back to and recalls the glorious history of the Chinese nation. Another memorable place is the Forbidden City. Walking around its amazing architecture gives you a deep sense of the illustrious imperial epochs this city has witnessed over the course of centuries.

I hope many more people will get to experience this striking side of China that the world hardly gets to see. I for sure have seen true beauty in this country.

(Print Edition Title: China Through My Eyes) 

The author is a Nigerian student who pursues her master's degree in petroleum engineering at the China University of Petroleum in Beijing

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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