On the morning of November 1^st in golden Autumn , Professor Chen Songxi's research group set out on their annual autumn excursion! The destination: Beijing’s Juyongguan Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. We invited special guests—the undergraduate students from Tsinghua University's Department of Statistics and honored guest Professor Yang Yuhong from the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center Together, we spent a fulfilling and happy day exploring historic sites around Beijing, enjoying countryside delicacies, and relaxing in the autumn scenery.

The Juyongguan Great Wall is winding like a dragon among the mountains, it has long been acclaimed as “No. 1 Strong Pass in the World" since ancient times. We started climbing from the western Great Wall. Along the way, we watched the colorful maple leaves, and Yan Mountain range under the vast sky; after quickly reaching the summit, everyone was excited and full of pride.

At the top of the twelfth watchtower on the western Great Wall, Professor Chen pointed to the eastern peaks and declared with aspiration: "Our journey is not yet complete—next time, we shall surely conquer the highest summit of the eastern Great Wall!"

At noon, we came to the farm stay near Siling and tasted the farm food. The specialties were baked cakes, spring cakes, and corn porridge. The flavors were mellow and the local atmosphere was instantly full.

After lunch, we walked slowly along the country path to Siling. The historical sites in the autumn colors in the countryside, creating a unique autumn charm.

We visited the Zhaoling Mausoleum of the Ming Tombs, toured the ancient wooden mausoleum area, and learned about the royal sacrificial culture and rules. As the sun set, our Group ended this fulfilling and unforgettable autumn tour and returned safely.

group photo