LSS Grade Seven’s Field Trip in 2021
East meets West, making Shanghai interact with the rest of the world
As the philosophers said, reading ten thousand books is like travelling ten thousand miles. In the past, textbooks were the student’s world of knowledge, while the world is students’ textbooks. With autumn being a season of reaping accomplishments, all grade seven students of LSS set off to go on a two-day field trip, which provided more information about Shanghai’s fusion of East and West. All students had a pleasant, rewarding study tour.
徐光启纪念馆
On the morning of 14 October, all grade seven students headed for Xu Guangqi Museum at Xujiahui’s Nandan Road. On their to-do list were viewing Xu Guangqi’s cemetery with respect, appreciating such artifacts as Euclid’s Elements, Chongzhen Calendar and A Treatise on Agricultural Policies, and conducting a lively discussion following the guide’s interpretation.
Xu Guangqi made tremendous contributions to the research of modern science, playing a vital role in carrying out communication between Chinese culture and Western culture. His outstanding part in helping to push forward Shanghai as an emerging city was significant, which every student marveled at.
鲁迅公园
In the afternoon, the students proceeded to the Hongkou area, where they took a stroll along romantic Tian’ai Road and paid a visit to the former residence of Lu Xun and the Lu Xun Commemorative Hall for a close-up look at Lu Xun; who was a literary master and a pioneer in neo-cultural movement. Browsing through an array of old yellowish photos, the students started to know about all important events in Lu Xun’s lifetime, his friends and Lu Xun’s changes in thinking.
Walking down the little lane at Shanyin Road and listening to the guide’s introduction, they indulged in imagining the way that Lu Xun lived his life as well as routine activities, imagining Lu Xun carrying his toddler while wandering with his wife under the sequoia trees, imagining him having a long talk with his friend and student while holding a cigarette to produce timeless essays which have tugged at readers’ heartstrings to date. The image of Lu Xun came alive suddenly.
豫园
On the morning of 15 October, all the students were off to Yu Garden, where magnificent and beautiful garden landscaping is such a fascination. At the same time, the last 500 years’ ups and downs came along with Yu Garden, which is really thought-provoking. Based on a good knowledge of Yu Garden and the guide’s instruction, everybody had an in-depth look at the chronological development of Shanghai’s old town.
外滩
In the afternoon, we rushed off to the Bund to carry out the field research on a host of exotic multi-national styles of architectures. Departing from the bustling Waibaidu Bridge, the students walked past the facade of marble and granite as well as classical relief sculptures which blend the East and the West.
Across the Huangpu River stand columns of modern buildings in Pudong Lujiazui Financial center, in front of which are rows of classical buildings in styles of various cultures. The Huangpu River is a testament to watching the past and the present of Shanghai. Shanghai evolved from merely a town in Songjiang to an international trading mecca and the incredible present-day metropolis of now. The shame of being forced to open the port of the city and the pride of reform and opening-up struck a chord with each and every one of the students.
本帮菜
At noon, all students feasted on Shanghai-style dishes, with sweet and smooth braised pork in soy sauce and chicken gravy that helped them have a deep understanding of harmony.
At noon, all students as well as their teachers were ready to enjoy themselves for lunch at “Xiaoshaoxing” restaurant at Yunnan Road, having a fabulous taste of the local culture of eating chicken. Originally a small stall, “Xiaoshaoxing” restaurant has evolved into a hallmark of the whole city of Shanghai. Now the delicacy of “boiled chicken slices in fragrant soup stock” is a symbol of Shanghai, which is worth everyone thinking hard about.
The two-day field trip enabled the students to study the society and the present. Through real-life experiences and inquiry, all the students looked back on Shanghai’s history and acquired the learning method of comparing both Asian culture and Western culture as well as realizing the importance of becoming an upstanding Chinese and a global citizen.