It is easy to get lost in a city like Beijing. I felt small, and slightly insignificant upon arrival. The humidity can be suffocating, yet there is something magical about the colossal nature of this
concrete jungle.
I came to China for the International Alliance of Research Universities' global summer programme at Peking University in July 2018. The aim of this course was to provide the
students with an overview of China’s economic development path, and it looked into China's economic transition process as well as its role in the world economy. The programme was of great interest to me, as I was doing my Honours research paper on the effect of China's outward foreign direct investment on Sub-Saharan African countries' economic growth.
Peking University is situated in the Haidian District in Beijing, and there are many other universities surrounding it. Founded in 1898, the university has retained much of the traditional Chinese style landscaping. There are three lakes on the campus with stunning gardens and pagodas nearby. I stayed at Zhongguan Zinyuan Global Village, which is the international students' residence.
I left Beijing feeling like I had only just begun to explore the city.
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