Suzhou and Shanghai Summer Exposure Programme 2019

The College organised a six-day study tour to Soochow University in Suzhou, and East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai, from 28 May to 2 June 2019. A total of 13 students joined the study tour; Year 4 student, Mr CHAN Yu Yan, and Year 2 student, Mr WONG Shing, were appointed group leaders. Prof Thomas AU, Associate College Master and Dean of Students and Prof Kenneth YOUNG joined parts of the tour.

Soochow University is a venerable university, founded in 1900 under the name Dongwu Daxue (in modern pinyin). Its current name in English retains the old spelling 'Soochow', rather than the standard pinyin 'Suzhou'—a practice similar to Peking University and Tsinghua University. We have a special kinship with Soochow University, because it too has a CW Chu College (established at about the same time as ours), which was the host of our visit. There had been a similar study tour to Soochow University in 2014, and this visit was an opportunity to renew old friendships and to forge new ones.

Indeed the opportunity was taken for an informal meeting among four CW Chu Colleges: those at CUHK, at Soochow University, at Suzhou University of Science and Technology, and at Jiangsu Normal University. Prof AU joined the meeting with the Masters of the three other colleges.

The tour programmes were diversified and covered cityscape, cultural and historic landmarks and natural scenery, such as Lake Tai and some of the surroundings, and Tiger Hill with its thousand-year history.

The students visited Suzhou Museum, which boasts of many pieces from two millennia of cultured habitation in that region. The short visit was a learning opportunity not only about archaeology and art, but about history going back as far as the Kingdoms of Wu and Yue before the period of the Warring States. The architecture of the Museum was also evocative: of its designer IM PEI, a world-renowned architect and a native son of Suzhou, who had passed away just recently; and of the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS) at CUHK, in which PEI also had a hand, and which, though more traditional in layout, has an air similar to the Museum. Incidentally the study group also went, on a different day, to visit the Museum of Soochow University, whose collection also showcases the heritage associated with the region.

The students were guided by Soochow University to Pingjiang Road and Shantang Street to experience the local life in Suzhou. They had a relaxing stroll along both sides of a canal, where there were many old shops, such as traditional street food shops and handicraft shops.

Apart from a visit to the premises of CW Chu College in Soochow University and several sessions of discussions with student counterparts, two academic lectures were organised on 'Classical Gardens of Suzhou' and  'Traditional Chinese Culture' respectively.

Prof NI Xiangbao, speaker of the lecture on 'Classical Gardens of Suzhou', is Director of the Institute of Film and Television Arts and Professor of the School of Communication, Soochow University, with expertise in film and television arts, classical gardens of Suzhou, Suzhou Wu culture and some intangible cultural heritage projects in Suzhou. During his lecture, the students were introduced to the features of Suzhou-style classical gardens. For example, as the gardens must be private, they are famous for their delicacy and meticulous design in their small spaces, unlike the luxurious grandeur of imperial gardens. The constructed landscape inside mimicked natural scenery of rocks, hills and rivers, preserving the aesthetics of nature. Most of the gardens were built by scholars in a plain and elegant tone. Their names often connote the owners' modesty, such as Zhuozheng Yuan (the Humble Administrator's Garden) and Canli Yuan (the Remnant Grain Garden) and the owners' retirement, such as Tuisi Yuan (the Retreat and Reflection Garden).

The lecture on 'Traditional Chinese Culture' was also fascinating. The speaker, Prof ZHOU Qin of Soochow University, is one of the country's best known experts on the dramatic art form kunqu, and a collaborator with PAI Hsien-yung in promoting its modernization, revival and popularisation worldwide. From his evening lecture, illustrated with video clips and his own singing as well as flute performance, the students learnt about the distinguishing features of this art form: not only its long history, but also the strict adherence to the dramatic script and score, so that there can be performances of different quality, but not of different schools of interpretation. He also spoke of the challenges of adapting performances to modern circumstances (for example, a story to be serialized over three consecutive evenings would probably not work) without compromising its intrinsically high-brow nature.

Joining the CUHK delegation on this tour was Mr XIE Haitao, a Shanghai journalist invited to write the story of Dr CW CHU and the College. He was with the students for several activities, and visited CW CHU College in Soochow University. Most importantly he had a long session recording oral history with Prof CHEN Keqian. Prof CHEN, now in his 90s, was President of Soochow University when Dr David CHU, the Chair of our Committee of Overseers and the eldest son of Dr CW Chu, started his philanthropic work in Jiangsu with the establishment of CW Chu Scholarships. Prof CHEN had written a book on the philanthropic work, and continues to be a local liaison person for the Chu family's support of education there.

The study tour also took the students to Shanghai, where they visited East China Normal University (ECNU). ECNU has established colleges as well, and our host was Meng Xiancheng College (孟憲承書院), named after the first President of the University and housing students in teacher training. (ECNU is now a comprehensive university, and there are majors in many subjects other than teacher education.) We were grateful to be welcomed by the head and deputy head of the College, as well as College students, even though it was a Saturday. Also joining the meeting was Prof WANG Jianjun, a CUHK PhD in Education from some years back, now a teacher at ECNU. The discussion was led by students on both sides, and there was a fruitful exchange on life in a college. All participants were struck by the many similarities in college activities and their intended outcomes. Given that Shanghai and Hong Kong are two cities that are typically in the top few spots in international evaluation of school education (e.g., the PISA studies), there was also an exchange on the sidelines on the common strengths and the common challenges faced, for example the large shadow cast by examinations.

All in all, during this summer exposure programme, the participants could explore the similarities and differences among Suzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong, by visiting many historic and cultural heritage sites and learning from some scholars' sharing. The programme broadened the students' horizons; contributed to their personal growth, and fostered friendships among students of the two universities. The College is deeply grateful to the teachers and students of Soochow University and ECNU for their enthusiastic hospitality.

Cultural and Language Study Tour to Beijing

The 15-day Cultural and Language Study Tour to Beijing was organised by the College, in collaboration with the Office of Academic Links (China), CUHK and Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) between 9 and 23 June 2019.  A Year 4 College student, KWAN Pui Ying Crystal, joined this study tour.

It was the fourth year that BLCU had received this study tour, the programmes of which were a combination of a Putonghua intensive course, Putonghua Shuiping Ceshi (PSC for short), the official test of oral proficiency in Standard Chinese designed for native speakers of Chinese, and cultural exchange activities.

The Putonghua lessons, rich in content and with an accent on practicality, were conducted by highly qualified teachers, who encouraged class interaction through interesting discussions. Crystal made friends with peers from the other universities in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan who attended the same Putonghua class.

Before the end of the course, Crystal had a valuable opportunity to take the PSC, which is recognised and regarded as authoritative throughout China including Hong Kong. Taking the exam does not only help her improve her Putonghua proficiency, but the recognition she acquired also benefit her career advancement in the future.

The cultural exchange activities of the tour included a Peking opera class and appreciation of a Peking opera performance at Liyuan Theatre, as well as visits to historically and culturally significant spots and new modern landmarks in Beijing.

Overall, the study tour was educational and eye-opening. Crystal has improved her Putonghua speaking skills, and gained a better understanding of both the traditional and modern sides of China. She is thankful to BLCU for its hospitality and the fond memories she had for Beijing during the trip.