I kicked off the start of my 6-week Mandarin immersion trip last weekend. I’ve been learning Mandarin regularly for the last 5+ years, but I haven’t had a chance to use it in earnest. I saw this as my opportunity to do so. First stop, a (long) layover in Taipei!

My first day in Beijing, and to get over jet lag and get settled in, I willed myself across the city (with help from a small boost of coffee). A little over 14 miles (according to my Fitbit). Not bad for my first full day!

I visited Beijing’s 798 Art Zone. I’ve been to 798 before, but after learning more about it from my Chinese language book, I wanted to visit again. Previously, it was a military industrial park. After it was decommissioned, a thriving artist community took over.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kou Aizhe, a renowned podcast producer behind the immensely popular Chinese podcast, GushiFM, which translates to “Story FM” in English. Similar to the podcast This American Life, GushiFM focuses on sharing authentic stories of everyday people in China.

Chengde, a mountain city, was the former summer residence for Qing dynasty emperors who sought to escape Beijing’s suffocating seasonal heat. It was also an important military outpost, located between Beijing and the further reaches of Mongolia (now Inner Mongolia).

I visited Putuo Zongcheng Temple and Puning Temple, which are part of what is collectively known as the Eight Outer Temples. These temples were constructed by the Qing dynasty to unite the region’s many ethnic minorities, offering them to their leaders as a gesture of unity.

I spent time exploring the morning street market. Unlike the night market, the food here is seen as a necessity and is heavily regulated by the government. Some vendors were uneasy when I photographed them. However, these photos were from the more accommodating ones.

I returned to Beijing for a night, as a transit stop before leaving for Wuhan tomorrow. One place that I’ve always liked is Beihai Park, which was once an imperial garden. I spent the evening photographing this park and portions of the outer wall of the Forbidden City.

I made it to Wuhan! It’s a historic city and has briefly served as China’s capital several times. Unfortunately, it’s also where COVID-19 originated. That alone may forever overshadow its long history. Time for me to investigate?

I indulged in some night photography from the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge. It reminded me how much I love capturing urban landscapes at night, especially when I’m out late by myself. In those moments, I feel completely in my element and, most importantly, happy.