[Date of message: 2016-7-8 ]

In the afternoon of July 4, with the check-in of the last two Belgium Chinese youngsters at Jiading No. 2 High School, all participants of 2016 Overseas Chinese Summer Youth Camp Jiading “Trip to China for Root — Meeting in Shanghai” have arrived, and the summer camp was formally opened.

This summer camp was sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Office of the State Council and Overseas Chinese Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government, for the purpose to expand the influence and appealing power of the Chinese culture, cultivate resources for Overseas Chinese resources, and promote the sustainable development of work in this field. The Jiading Camp, undertaken by the Overseas Chinese Office of Jiading District and Jiading No. 2 High School, dated from July 4 to 18, received a total of 25 participants mainly as Belgium Chinese youngsters and leading teachers as organized by the Association of Chinese Professionals in Belgium. The summer camp will, with the “cultural root finding” as the theme, organize learning the knowledge of Chinese culture, visiting historical and cultural resorts in Shanghai and Jiading, and get-together activities with students of Jiading No. 2 High School, to spread the Chinese culture and demonstrate the development of China.

On July 5, the series activities were formally started for 2016 Overseas Chinese Summer Youth Camp Jiading “Trip to China for Root — Meeting in Shanghai”. In the morning, the campers visited the campus as accompanied by two teachers of Jiading No. 2 High School. They came to the Li Garden in the school to feel the profound cultural deposit of the school, and came to the Science and Technology Education Hall and Geography Education Hall to experience the joy of innovation. They all exclaimed over the completeness and advanced basic education facilities in China. In the Education Hall on Chinese Ancient History, they heard the vivid talking by teacher Shen about the Chinese ancient history and culture, discussed with the teacher on the merits and demerits of the ancient historical figures of China, to feel the long history of China and the extensive and profound Chinese culture. After lunch, the campers came to Han Tianhe Gallery in Jiading, strolling through Han Tianhe Art Footprint Hall, Han Tianhe Works Exhibition Hall, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition Hall and Scholars’ Jewels and Plays Exhibition Hall. Next, all campers visited the Confucian Temple in Jiading with great interests despite of the hot weather, they paid respects for the portrait of Confucius, looked with reverence at the three tall memorial archways, and also visited the museum of Chinese imperial examinations, to know the cultural veins of these examinations.

On July 6, the sun was extremely hot, but the hot weather of 35℃ could never stop the enthusiastic camp members from visiting the millennium ancient town —— Nanxiang Town. The young campers toured the Guyi Garden, known as one of the four classic gardens to the south of Yangtze River, and danced and kicked shuttlecocks with grandpas and grandmas doing morning exercises; then they visited the private garden of Li Liufang, an artist of the Ming Dynasty, the Tan Garden, where they enjoyed the changing landscape with moving steps along the corridors and bridges, as if in pictures; the historical remains of the millennium Yunxiang Temple, the brick pagoda dated from the Five Dynasties – Nanxiang Twin Pagodas also let the campers feel the profound ancient culture of the town. At the Exhibition of Nanxiang Civil Ceramic Artistic Collections, the “national treasure” exhibits, plus the detailed explanation by Mr. Ding Fuxiang, a graduate of Jiading No. 2 High School in 1965, made the visitors acclaim as the peak of perfection, and also better understand the meaning of China.

In the afternoon, Yang Hailong, deputy director of the united front work department of CPC Jing’an District Committee and director of the Overseas Chinese Office of the District, and Meng Yi, deputy director of the Overseas Chinese Office of the District came to Jiading No. 2 High School, to meet with the campers, leading teachers and working personnel of the camp. Yang Hailong inquired the campers in detail about their activities and living conditions in the camp, showed concern over their health, and enjoined all of them to make proper prevention of heatstroke, ensure good health and pay attention to personal safety. He pointed out that such summer camp activities were of great significance. He hoped that the campers know more about the Chinese culture by this opportunity, feel the progress and development of China, and see that their “root” in China, as this predestined emotion is rooted deep in spirit and can never be cut.