In Beilin Museum, we were reminded of the founding of Chung Chi when we saw the Jingjiao Stele, which connects history to us.

Modern society values speed and efficiency, leaving people with little tranquility to observe a city or even engage with its history. This summer, the study trip “Cultural Exploration of Xi’an and Hong Kong”, organised by Chung Chi College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Guohao College of Tongji University, and Qian Xuesen Honors College of Xi’an Jiaotong University, offered us a unique platform to explore the two cities. Through cross-disciplinary dialogue, site visits, and thematic discussions, we collectively learned the essence of culture, as well as the histories and possibilities of our cities.

The exchange consisted of two parts: Chung Chi and Tongji students visited Xi’an first, followed by Tongji and Jiaotong students visiting Hong Kong. These two journeys not only brought us physically into each other’s cities but also into one another’s perspectives and values, allowing us to once again recognise the places in which we live.

The Weight of History and the Power of Spirit in Xi’an

The history of Xi’an is not merely a sequence of dynasties from textbooks, but a living presence embodied in every ancient brick, stele and wall, where those cultural memories remain alive. One of the most impressive moments for us was the “Spirit of the Westward Relocation” seminar and the visit to the Xi’an Jiaotong University Westward Relocation Museum. Through the speaker’s introduction and the exhibited items, we came to understand the university’s historic relocation from Shanghai to Xi’an in the 1950s, and how teachers and students at the time put aside personal comfort for the sake of national development. This was not just history, but also an inheritance of values.

In the Beilin Museum, we were awed by the steles inscribed with centuries of history, which served as a kind of cultural repository. We were especially moved to see the Nestorian Stele (Jingjiao Stele), a piece that connects to Chung Chi’s history, standing as a point of intersection between our present lives and the distant past. In that moment, we were no longer mere visitors but became part of a continuum.

Another unforgettable site was Huaqing Pool and the site of the Xi'an Incident. Standing next to the imperial bathing pools of the Tang Dynasty and walking past the site of a military remonstrance in modern history, we sensed the grandeur and gravity of those historic moments. History is not only about glory but also about solemnity. These layers also shape the soul of a city.

We recognised the history of Xi'an Jiaotong University in the Westward Relocation Museum, from inheriting the tradition of Nan Yang Public School, to following the government's request for westward relocation. This history revealed the striving spirit of the University.

Familiarity and Rediscovery of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong leg of the exchange began with campus tours led by us, the local students. From Chung Chi College Chapel to Lake Ad Excellentiam, we introduced historic buildings and new venues that we walk past every day. But the act of preparing and presenting them to visiting students forced us to re-examine these places. We began to see that what is familiar to us might still hold undiscovered meanings, especially when interpreted through others’ eyes.

One especially striking experience was the visit to the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir. Originally a piece of municipal infrastructure, this underground structure has now been reactivated as a cultural heritage site. Through lighting design and guided tours, we felt how history could be reborn through spatial storytelling. Standing among the vaulted arches, we pondered: must architecture always serve a single function? Can buildings also carry memory and emotion?

Another meaningful stop was the Heritage of Mei Ho House. This revitalised public housing block, first completed in the 1950s, has taught us to view Hong Kong’s post-war development through the lens of community living. From the photos and furnishings on display, we saw the textures of life in old communities and understood how space influences the ways people connect with each other.

And finally, when we walked into the Hong Kong Cemetery at Happy Valley, a flood of emotion emerged. Here lie people of European, American, Japanese, Jewish, and Muslim descent — some of whom played pivotal roles in Hong Kong’s and China’s modern history. Yet many of their names are absent from the mainstream narrative. This made us reflect: the true cultural value of a city often lies in its overlooked corners.

We explored the Ex-Sham Shui Po Service Reservoir, where light and structure interact to bring the past into conversation with the present.

From Learners to Storytellers

This journey shifted us from being pure learners to also becoming storytellers. In Xi’an, we listened, observed, asked questions, and absorbed the richness of a thousand-year-old city. In Hong Kong, we became guides: designing routes, preparing commentary, and translating our understanding into stories for guests from afar.

Challenges were plenty: dealing with sudden weather changes, adjusting schedules, and overcoming language or cultural barriers in collaborative tasks. Yet these difficulties became opportunities. They taught us how to communicate better, negotiate thoughtfully, and build consensus across differences.

These non-formal learning experiences — from route planning and contingency handling to shared living — were just as important as our formal studies in specialised areas such as architecture, urban planning, or cultural studies. Through these experiences, we learned how to live with others, how to navigate uncertainty, and how to grow in maturity. These are the qualities that will carry us the furthest.

Students from all three universities took a group photo at the exchange dinner, marking a cross-regional and interdisciplinary journey.

Let History and Space Speak

Looking back on the entire study trip, our greatest takeaway was not only learning about the two cities’ histories and cultural landmarks, but also acquiring the skills to read stories in space and to search for history in everyday life. Whether in the form of city walls and steles in Xi’an, or old tenement blocks and cemeteries in Hong Kong, we were repeatedly reminded: culture is not static, it stays alive in spaces, and in between the people inside.

We hope that in our future pursuits — be it architectural design, urban research, or curatorial work — we can apply what we have learned from this journey: being inclusive amid diverse cultural backgrounds, being reflective within historical contexts, and being able to convey lived experiences. We’ll remember how we were empowered to grow and transform through our engagement with cities.

Student Reporter Qiu Yiyu Yoyo