2019 CIG Gansu Intangible Cultural Heritage Tour
On September 1st, the 2019 “Hometown Tour of Red Candles – Gansu Intangible Cultural Heritage Tour” was launched in Gansu, with 15 participants from Thailand, Switzerland, Serbia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Australia, Canada, France, Japan and other countries. They are directors or leaders from overseas Chinese schools. This is a chance for them to learn more about the inheritance and protection of intangible cultural heritage and development of industrialization in Gansu province.
This ” Hometown Tour of Red Candles” is sponsored by the Chinese Language and Culture Education Foundation of China and organized by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Gansu Province. It embodies the care for the older generation of overseas Chinese teachers, and encourages the new generation to actively participate in the career of Chinese education, to become a bridge to promote the exchanges and integration of Chinese culture and other outstanding culture in the world.
The group visited the Lanzhou Overseas Chinese Experimental School Bi Gui Yuan Campus on September 5th. Accompanied by the relevant leaders of the United Front Work Department from the province, municipal and district committee, the group experienced feature courses with students such as traditional musical instruments, Chinese dance, Chinese martial arts, poetry recitation, traditional art etc.
They also visited the recitation classroom, Yafeng calligraphy workshop, Maihui art workshop and Chuangke robot classroom which has been established for less than two years but has achieved big success.
After the visit, the group exchanged their experience in overseas Chinese education in the conference room, and learned more about the history of the Lanzhou Overseas Chinese Experimental School Bi Gui Yuan campus. The Principal Mrs. Wang introduced in detail the school’s philosophies. The group appreciated their teaching mode and teaching achievements, and highly praised the gorgeous Chinese culture displayed in the campus. They also expressed their interest in establishing a long-term friendly and cooperative relationship with the Lanzhou Overseas Chinese Experimental School, and encouraged teachers and students from this school to go overseas for a return visit, to spread Chinese culture and exchange teaching experience. The seminar ended successfully in a cordial and harmonious atmosphere.
On September 10th, the 10-day “2019 Hometown Tour of Red Candles – Gansu Intangible Cultural Heritage Tour” was concluded in Dunhuang. Overseas Chinese school leaders from 12 countries exchanged their experience on the development of overseas Chinese education. Mrs. Jun CHU, Director of Chinese Institute Geneva Foundation (CIG) in Switzerland, shared her story to spend more than 10 years to build and grow CIG. She said that there was a transition from interest to mission, in the beginning she just wanted to teach her own children Chinese.
In 2008 more and more people in Switzerland began to show interest in Chinese language and culture. Mrs. Chu founded CIG in this context. CIG not only teaches Chinese language, but also incorporates traditional Chinese culture such as Guzheng, paper-cutting and calligraphy into the classroom in novel and interesting ways.
Mrs. Chu added that learning Chinese is not only about learning the language, but more importantly, inheriting Chinese culture. “Now we have an extra responsibility on our shoulders, that is to promote overseas Chinese education.” In the internet age, the development of Chinese education ushers in new opportunities and challenges. Innovative classrooms are a topic of concern for many overseas Chinese schools.
