Our Unforgettable Adventure: Year 8 in Guilin and Yangshuo

March 2 was easily one of the most special days of 2026—it was the start of Year 8’s Activity Week! We traveled to Guilin to experience unique food, local culture, and plenty of adventure. To make it even better, I even got to celebrate my birthday during the trip!

The Journey Begins

Bright and early Monday morning, we headed to the station. Instead of flying, we took the high-speed rail, which was a first for many of us. The train ride took almost four hours, and we arrived in the late afternoon. Our first activity was a group treasure hunt where we navigated the city in teams, searching for landmarks and asking locals for clues.

After a long day, we had dinner and headed to our hotel for the night. The next morning, we packed our bags again and boarded a ferry to Yangshuo. The ferry was definitely a highlight of the trip because we got to try some very "interesting" local snacks, like snails, small crabs, and shrimp chips. We also spent time on the rooftop taking in the incredible landscape, including the famous Nine Horses Mural Hill—a cliff face along the Li River with rock patterns that look like nine galloping horses.

Adventures in Yangshuo

Once we arrived in Yangshuo, we split into smaller groups for a rotation of activities over the next three days. These included:

• Biking: We cycled through the countryside with amazing views of the Karst hills and blooming flower fields.

  
  

• Bench Making: We got a glimpse into the everyday lives of the locals and crafted our own wooden benches, which were then donated to the local communities and schools.

  
  

• Rock Climbing & Ziplining: We challenged ourselves to climb to insane heights before flying back down on a long zipline.

  
  

• Cave Exploring: We went deep into thousand-year-old caves filled with ancient dripstones and interesting cave creatures.

  
  

On the morning of day four, we visited a local school to meet and talk with the students. They greeted us with a traditional lion dance performed by the students themselves, which was really impressive! We even took lessons together, including arts and crafts and sports. We made lots of new friends, and they were all so welcoming and sweet.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

On our last night, we gathered around a bonfire to play games and enjoy time with our friends. The next morning, it was time to head back to the railway station. Just like that, our activity week came to an end. Time flew by much faster than I expected, and I already miss it. It may have only been five days, but these memories will definitely last a lifetime.

Elsa Su, Year 8 Student