Cultural Pride: Bringing back the China Trek
By Karl Wang ’25 Two-Year MBA
This spring break, I had the pleasure of leading 68 Kellogg MBA students on a 10-day trip to China, visiting Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. It was a whirlwind of amazing experiences: climbing the Great Wall, hanging out with pandas, enjoying hotpot and even dressing up in traditional Chinese outfits.
But it wasn’t just about ticking off tourist spots: leading this experiential trip meant sharing my vibrant, evolving home country with my classmates through an unfiltered lens. The experience captured the heart of what Kellogg means to me — expanding our perspectives, challenging our assumptions and building connections.
The moment that sparked the idea
I first got the idea to relaunch the China Trek after COVID when I went on the Colombia Trek in 2024 because I loved seeing how my Colombian classmates shared their country. That trip made me realize there's no better way to understand a country and broaden your world view than by experiencing it firsthand.
I wondered our school didn't have a China Trek. Later, I found out that it had been paused for about five years due to COVID-19 and travel restrictions. After becoming co-president of the Greater China Club, my very first project was to bring back the China Trek. Within a week, I found a dedicated team and partnered with Noice China, a travel agency run by a Peking University MBA who had spent an exchange quarter at Kellogg.
I was worried about whether people would want to go. My initial goal was just 20 participants because let’s face it, for some, traveling in China might seem daunting: language barriers, the internet firewall, political differences. Some classmates even asked if it was safe to travel there as an American tourist.
We planned a well-rounded itinerary to make the trip appealing, adding Chengdu to the usual Beijing and Shanghai route. Chengdu is famous for its pandas, spicy food and slower-paced lifestyle — an interesting contrast to how many Americans picture China. Then came the big surprise: we sold out our first 30 spots in 30 minutes, and an additional 40 spots were snapped up the same day. It felt like the whole school was buzzing with excitement.
Our 10-day adventure revealed the countless dimensions of China. In Beijing, we walked through the Forbidden City and local neighborhoods. We strolled across centuries of imperial history, witnessing how old and new coexist. Flying to Chengdu, a city known for its adorable pandas, spicy hotpot and laid-back lifestyle, offered an eye-opening contrast to the typical fast-paced image of China.
Professor Craig Garthwaite led the Deep Dive into Chinese Healthcare in Shanghai. Full-Time MBA and Executive MBA students participated in five days of lectures, panels and site visits across several healthcare verticals. The immersive learning offered us an in-depth look at China’s healthcare ecosystem. It was a great opportunity to understand the global nature of healthcare and how solutions often transcend borders. We also explored Shanghai’s buzzing nightlife and took in the city’s iconic skyline that is a visual representation of the country’s rapid growth.
The trek concluded with a memorable boat party on The Bund, Shanghai's famous waterfront. Over 130 students and 40+ alumni enjoyed a festive atmosphere with stunning river views and a lively DJ.
To everyone who signed up and came with open minds and open hearts: thank you for making this journey so special. It showed just how powerful firsthand experiences can be when it comes to bridging cultures.
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