15/12/2025
**A Special Visit to Tsinghua**
This was my third time in Beijing, but the first with our children’s laughter coloring the trip. Two families, nine of us, visited Tsinghua University.
Our guide was Jing Lin, a Malaysian friend pursuing his Master’s here. Meeting us at the historic West Gate, he carried the quiet confidence of the campus.
“It’s huge,” he smiled, leading us past the symbolic Second Gate and the red-brick Tsinghua Xuetang.
The library captivated the kids. “Are they all super smart?” my daughter whispered. “They are,” Jing Lin said. “But more importantly, they know *why* they study. Tsinghua teaches you how to be a complete person.”
By Jinchun Garden’s frozen lake, he shared a funny story about a black swan that wandered to the West Gate, as if curious about the world beyond.
Passing the sports field, he pointed at students running in the cold. “Tsinghua gathers top talent, but values more than just intellect. Physical health is essential—strong minds need strong bodies.”
In that moment, I understood. This wasn’t just a campus tour, but seeing a world of possibility through the eyes of someone who had grown here.
On the way back, my daughter leaned against me. “So, this is what a university can be.” Yes, I thought. Beyond the Great Wall’s grandeur, what remained was the vision of a place where dreams take root, and the quiet certainty that guides like Jing Lin have bright futures ahead.
Beijing gained new meaning. Tsinghua is no longer just a name, but a living story. Thank you for this encounter, for planting a seed of future wonder.
