Jessup’s 2025 China Trip
By Yi Sun
Jessup International Student Services partnered with Jiangxi College of Applied Technology and Wuhan University this summer to host an unforgettable cultural exchange trip to China. From May 13 to 26, nine students and three staff members from Jessup embarked on a journey that combined history, cultural learning and meaningful friendship.
Our adventure began in Beijing, where two faculty representatives from Jiangxi College greeted us at the Capital airport. Over three days, students explored iconic sites that revealed the intersection of history and modern achievement: the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube Olympic Venues, the National Museum of China, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China. Visits to Nanluoguxiang, a Yuan Dynasty alleyway, and Houhai Lake revealed our first experience of China’s deep cultural heritage.
From Beijing, we flew south to Ganzhou, Jiangxi, home of our first host university. At Jiangxi College of Applied Technology, faculty and peers welcomed our team with open arms. During the week, we participated in hands-on cultural workshops including traditional pottery-making, cloisonné enamel painting, Chinese jade culture, ancient poetry, and etiquette lessons. Beyond the cultural workshops, we toured historic sites like the Fushou Canal Museum and the Ancient City Wall. These experiences allowed students to learn about China’s traditions and form personal friendships with local students and educators.
Our next stop was Wuhan, where we boarded a high-speed train to one of China’s most respected institutions, Wuhan University. Living in the on-campus dormitories, our group enjoyed the hospitality of student volunteers who guided us through the city and campus. Highlights included the Hubei Provincial Museum, where we explored treasures of the ancient Chu culture, and a hands-on workshop in Han Embroidery, a living art form passed down for centuries. We toured the Wuhan University History Museum on campus and admired the unique Sakura Castle-style architecture. One student even expressed a desire to return for a semester of study at Wuhan University soon.
On May 26, we returned home with full hearts and broadened perspectives. For many, this was their very first visit to China. Students remarked on how different the country was from what they had expected — modern, advanced and filled with people eager to connect. Additionally, the trip gave our students the gift of cultural awareness and the chance to reflect on how God calls us to be cultural ambassadors.
While our trip was not about preaching, it was about showing Christ’s love through respect, friendship and openness to learn. Philippians 2:4 instructs us to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” One participant reflected on John 13:34, where Jesus commands us to “love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This love was shown in the joy of shared meals, laughter during workshops, and the genuine kindness of our Chinese hosts.
This trip was a remarkable success, and we are already making plans to return next summer. Jessup students will continue to build bridges of understanding and friendship across the world.
