In the gentle spring breeze of April, students from the Pudong Campus of Shanghai High School International Division took to the streets from April 23rd to April 28th to explore the history and culture of Shanghai with the theme of "Chinese Culture”. On April 27th, the fourth and fifth-grade students held the "Heroes of Chinese Characters" final for PG class. With laughter and joy, on this beautiful spring day they uncovered the profound nature and complexity of Chinese characters.

First-grade teachers and students explored the mysteries of plants and bridges in Mianqing Park. Through the trees and flowers in the park, they learned about Chinese characters and their meanings. Two classes of students boarded a bus at noon to Mianqing Park and arrived amid smiles and excitement. Under the instructor's guidance, they learned about the difference between bridges and beams, the origin of various tree names, and the significance of bamboo in Chinese culture, all while surrounded by a lush bamboo forest. In addition, the students played traditional small games, such as throwing pots, to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. After the activities, the students enjoyed a much-anticipated picnic time, gathering in groups of three or five, laying picnic mats on the grass, and sharing snacks. The combination of learning and entertainment provided students with an enriching and insightful experience during this Chinese Culture Week trip.

Second-grade students began their journey from the Sihang Warehouse to the Suzhou River, crossing Zhejiang Road Bridge and Garden Bridge of Shanghai along the way. They walked slowly along the Mother River in Shanghai, learning about the historical stories that have occurred here and experiencing the ups and downs of the mother river in Shanghai over the past century in the warm, late spring sunshine and fresh breeze.

The third graders strolled along the Huazheng Trail, which is steeped in history and change. Starting from the Book Garden, the students walked along the trail and enjoyed the peaceful yet story-filled streetscape. A teacher with “Cool Character" introduced the history of East China University of Political Science and Law to the students and shared information about the famous people who graduated from this university. The children felt as if they had traveled to that turbulent era and experienced the power of history. Walking along the trail, the students saw a tall and upright ancient ginkgo tree, which gives the site its name. Besides the tree, the teacher taught the students about the origin of the Chinese character element of the tree. On the Suzhou River, a boat sailed by, and as the students followed its movement, they saw the Huazheng Bridge, which spans both sides of the river. The students followed the teacher, listened to the fascinating Chinese character introduction, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and learned about the history of the area.

Fourth-grade students went to the Bund to visit the International Architecture Expo Group located on the banks of the Huangpu River. After more than a hundred years of construction, the towpath that was once treaded by boatmen and hard workers is now full of tall buildings and heavy traffic. As a symbol of Shanghai, these buildings with coexistence of classicism and modernism left a deep impression on the students. Everyone listened carefully to the narrator, telling the history of these buildings, and at the same time appreciating their centuries-old splendor.

The fifth-grade students visited the source of Shanghai-style culture at Guangqi Park and Xuhui Saint Ignatius Church Square. The tour guide began with the history of the word "Hui" in "Xujiahui," and then shared the historical story of "Western learning spreading eastward". As the students strolled through the park, they not only experienced the atmosphere of modern natural scientific enlightenment, but also learned about the past and present lives of the Xujiahui area. The significant contributions of Mr. Xu Guangqi's integration of East and West left them in awe, while the rich historical ambience added to their overall experience.

During Chinese Culture Week, fourth and fifth-grade students at the Pudong Campus also held an exciting "Chinese Character Hero" final in their PG class on April 27th. Chinese characters inherit thousands of years of Chinese cultural heritage, making each one a treasure of Chinese culture. The young contestants selected from each class were all familiar with Chinese character culture, and they excelled in writing questions, comprehension questions, and background culture questions. The audience had many exciting ideas, and the entire competition was constantly erupting with thunderous applause. Although it was only one short hour, we believe that our classmates gained a deeper understanding of Chinese characters and the culture behind them.

This Chinese culture week and the "Chinese Character Hero" final have brought rich and colorful cultural experiences to the students of SHSID Pudong campus. Each student actively participated, becoming learners, experiencers, and disseminators of Chinese culture. We believe that the grandeur and richness of Chinese culture has taken deep roots in the children’s hearts, and the journey of experiencing the essence of Chinese culture is ongoing.

Written by Jia Lu, Yang Qingjia, Xue bing, Li Haoruo, Zhang Lei

Pictures by Teachers of Pudong Campus

Edited by Serene Yang, Yilin Zhu (Intern), Jonathan Woodcock