Fresh Breezes at Ancient Capital Xi'an: 2005 CEIBS Study Tour
During April 21 and 24, over 100 CEIBS EMBA students and alumni from both Beijing and Shanghai gathered at the ancient capital of Xi'an for the 2005 CEIBS Study Tour. Within the four short days, the participants had a chance to see many facets of this important capital city of West China.
Xi'an Impressions: An Unforgettable Study Tour
by Zhou Yun
As a newly-enrolled student with the EMBA program, I started my first study tour to Xi'an on April 21, 2005, filled with expectation and curiosity.
After a short flight, we arrived at the destination airport, where our hospitable alumni from Xi'an were already waiting for us. They sent us to the hotel. There, class coordinators from CEIBS, who were easily recognized for their CEIBS T-shirts and the sign board of Xi'an Study Tour, gave us a warm greeting.
We had a spectacular welcome party that night. The next morning, our alumni in Xi'an arranged for us the visit to Xi'an High-tech Park and some famous companies there, providing us with a better understanding of the local economic development.
In the afternoon, we visited the Shaanxi Historic Museum, home to one of the foremost collections of Chinese art and objects in the world. Later that afternoon, we were entertained by an interesing lecture on the culture of Shaanxi province and the relationship between the nomadic culture and economic development in Northwestern China.
What impressed us most was the traditional entrance ceremony at the southern gate of Xi'an that night. Used to be the entrance to welcome foreign emissaries, the gate was decorated with lanterns hanging on both sides. Presided by the deputy mayor of Xi'an, the ceremony brought us back to the Tang Dynasty. A man dressed in "Tang minister" led the welcoming team in traditional suits of ancient warriors stopped us in front of the gate. We had to show the "certificate for entering the city", the official document used in Tang Dynasty before we walked into the city on red carpets. At the end of the entrance, we signed our names on the potteries for memory.
The third day was also exciting. Alumni and on-campus students were split into two teams, one heading for the Hua Mountain and the other for Famen Temple. After the sightseeing, Chen Deming, governor of Shaanxi Province, gave us a presentation on the economic development of the province with detailed statistics and rational analysis, which envisioned us a picture of the province's future.
The farewell party was held on the third night. Professional actors and actresses entertained us with a variety of high-quality folklore performances while the alumni surprised us with different kinds of talent show. The party wrapped up the well-organized trip in Xi'an and was followed by a day of free activities on the fourth day. We were allowed to choose the activities we were most interested in including golfing, tennis, and the forums on health industry.
At the very end of the four-day study tour, all participants expressed that they could meet again in the near future.
