Exploring Wonders Together: Songhong's Team Building Trip to Jiuzhaigou

Nestled in the mountains of Sichuan, Jiuzhaigou Valley is a place of unparalleled natural beauty, with crystal-clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests that paint the landscape in a riot of colors. For the employees of Huizhou Songhong Industry, a leading paper trading enterprise, this breathtaking destination became more than just a tourist spot—it was the backdrop for a memorable team building trip that strengthened bonds, fostered collaboration, and reminded everyone of the power of working together, both in and out of the office.​

Preparing for the Adventure: Anticipation Builds​

Months before the trip, the company’s HR team began planning every detail, aiming to create an experience that balanced relaxation, exploration, and team-building activities. “We wanted to choose a destination that would take everyone out of their daily routine and allow them to connect in a new environment,” explains Ms. Liu, the HR manager. “Jiuzhaigou was perfect—its natural beauty is inspiring, and the variety of trails and activities offered opportunities for both adventure and reflection.”​

Employees were buzzing with excitement as the departure date approached. Teams that usually collaborated over spreadsheets and warehouse logistics found themselves chatting about hiking gear, camera batteries, and whether they should pack a jacket for the cool mountain evenings. “I’ve never been to Jiuzhaigou, but I’ve seen photos of the blue lakes,” said Lin Mei from the warehouse team, showing off her new hiking boots. “I can’t wait to see it in person—and maybe finally beat Zhao Gang at something that isn’t barcode scanning!” Her comment drew laughter, a preview of the lighthearted spirit that would define the trip.​

The HR team divided the 50 employees into five groups, mixing members from different departments to encourage cross-team interaction. Each group was tasked with planning one small activity during the trip, from a trivia game about the company’s history to a creative photo challenge. “We wanted everyone to feel involved, not just along for the ride,” Ms. Liu said. “When you work together to organize something, even a simple game, it builds trust and communication.”​

Arrival in Jiuzhaigou: First Glimpses of Beauty​

After a early-morning flight to Chengdu and a scenic bus ride through winding mountain roads, the team arrived at Jiuzhaigou. As they stepped off the bus, the crisp mountain air hit them, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. The first view of the valley—with its snow-capped peaks in the distance and a river glistening like silver below—left everyone speechless. “I thought our warehouse’s climate-controlled rooms were impressive, but this is on another level,” joked Zhang Jun, the delivery driver, as he pulled out his phone to take a photo.​

The group checked into a cozy hotel nestled among the trees, where wooden lodges blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings. After a quick lunch of local Sichuanese dishes—spicy but flavorful, with plenty of rice to cool things down—the teams set off for their first adventure: a leisurely hike along the Reed Lake trail.​

As they walked, conversations flowed freely. Chen Yu from customer service, usually busy handling client calls, talked about her passion for birdwatching, pointing out a colorful species flitting between the trees. Wang Fang, the packaging team lead, shared stories about her grandmother, who grew up in a mountain village, while Li Wei from logistics listened intently, asking questions about life in the countryside. These were not the hurried exchanges of the workplace but genuine, curiosity-driven chats that helped everyone see their colleagues in a new light.​

Team Challenges Amidst Nature’s Splendor​

The next day brought a more structured team-building activity: a scavenger hunt through the Shuzheng Valley, one of Jiuzhaigou’s most iconic areas. Each group received a list of tasks that required collaboration, creativity, and a keen eye for detail. They had to take a group photo with a waterfall, find three different types of leaves and explain how they might inspire new paper designs, and solve a puzzle about the company’s upcoming projects—all while staying on schedule to meet at the next checkpoint.​

The competition was friendly but fierce. Zhao Gang’s group, which included members from sales and R&D, split up to cover more ground: two people searched for leaves, while others brainstormed how to pose with the Pearl Shoal Waterfall to include everyone in the shot. “In the warehouse, we’re used to dividing tasks to meet deadlines, so this felt familiar,” Zhao Gang said. “But here, there’s no barcode scanner—just us relying on each other’s strengths.”​

Lin Mei’s group, meanwhile, struggled with the puzzle until someone suggested they approach it like they would a tricky inventory discrepancy: by breaking it down step by step. “We all have different ways of thinking, but when we listen to each other, we find the solution faster,” she noted later. By the end of the scavenger hunt, every group had completed the tasks, and while there was a “winner,” the real reward was the laughter and high-fives shared by everyone.​

In the afternoon, the team visited (Five-Flower Lake), a stunning body of water whose depths shimmer with hues of blue, green, and yellow, thanks to mineral deposits and algae. Here, they participated in a reflective exercise: each person was asked to share one thing they admired about a colleague from another department. “I want to thank Zhang Jun,” said Chen Yu, turning to the driver. “Last month, when that storm delayed the packaging paper delivery, you stayed calm and found an alternate route. It taught me that staying patient under pressure makes all the difference.” Zhang Jun smiled, unused to such public praise, and replied, “I couldn’t have done it without your updates, Chen Yu. Teamwork, right?”​

Evenings of Connection: Stories and S’mores​

As the sun set over the mountains, the team gathered around a bonfire at the hotel, swapping stories and roasting marshmallows for s’mores—a treat that was new to some but quickly became a favorite. Mr. Chen, the CEO, who had joined the trip, shared a story about the early days of the company, when he and a small team would load paper rolls into a tiny van themselves. “Back then, we didn’t have fancy warehouses or delivery fleets—just a lot of determination,” he said. “What made it work was that we trusted each other. We knew that if one person fell behind, the rest would pick up the slack. That’s the spirit I want us to keep, no matter how big we grow.”​

One by one, employees shared their own memories: the time the warehouse team stayed late to pack an urgent order for a client’s book launch, the way the sales team celebrated with the R&D department when a new paper sample was approved, the laughter in the break room during the Dragon Boat Festival zongzi-making. These stories, often taken for granted in the rush of daily work, felt more meaningful in the quiet of the mountains, a reminder of the shared history that bound them together.​

On the final night, each group presented their planned activity. One group organized a trivia game where questions ranged from “How many types of paper does Songhong trade?” to “What’s Wang Fang’s favorite hiking snack?” (The answer: dried mango.) Another group shared a slideshow of photos they’d taken, set to a song someone had written about the trip, with lyrics that referenced inside jokes and memorable moments. By the end of the night, no one wanted the evening to end.​

Returning with Renewed Purpose​

As the team boarded the bus back to Chengdu, there was a sense of contentment mixed with a touch of sadness that the trip was over. But more than that, there was a new energy—a feeling that the connections forged in Jiuzhaigou would translate back to the workplace.​

In the weeks following the trip, colleagues who had hiked together now stopped to chat in the warehouse. The sales team, which had bonded with the logistics team over the scavenger hunt, began collaborating more smoothly on delivery schedules. Even small interactions felt different: a shared smile when someone mentioned “that time we got lost on the trail” or a casual “Want to grab lunch? I remember you liked Sichuan food” built a sense of camaraderie that made the workday brighter.​

Mr. Chen noticed the difference too. “A team that laughs together, solves problems together, and explores together is a team that works better together,” he said in a company meeting. “Jiuzhaigou didn’t just give us memories—it reminded us why we’re here: to support each other, to take pride in what we do, and to build something that lasts, just like the mountains and lakes we explored.”​

For Songhong Industry, the trip to Jiuzhaigou was more than a team building exercise—it was a celebration of the people who make the company successful. In the end, it’s not just about trading paper; it’s about the relationships that turn colleagues into friends, and a workplace into a community. And as everyone returned to their desks, they carried with them not just photos of blue lakes and waterfalls, but a deeper understanding that together, they could tackle anything—whether it’s a challenging delivery schedule or a mountain trail.​