Day 5: Shanghai

We arrived in Shanghai after more than 2 hours bus journey from Wuxi.

Our first stop was at Xin Tian Di (新天地), located in the center of Shanghai City. We learnt that the architecture of the place retains the antique walls, tiles and exterior of the Shikumen housing of old Shanghai but the shops there were trendy and modern.

After our lunch, we visited the tallest structure in China from 1994-2007, the Oriental Pearl Tower. This is a TV tower, facing The Bund of Shanghai across the Huangpu River. There were many visitors on that day, and we had to keep very close to the group so that we won’t be lost. First, we went to the 2nd sphere, 263m high to see the breath-taking view of Shanghai City. There was a mix of historical buildings such as the Bank of China Building, Shanghai with modern architecture like the Mercedes Benz Arena. We also went to the transparent observatory deck 259m off the ground, for another panorama view of the Huangpu River, but through the transparent glass under our feet. It was a fun and exciting experience, especially to those us who are scared of heights.

Just a short ride away, we went to Cheng Huang Miao Commercial Area. It was a large famous shopping district that surrounds a temple. There were more than a hundred shops and most of these store buildings are nearly a century old.

Walking past the Yu Yuan Garden, another landmark of the old city, we arrived at the scenic Bund of Shanghai to capture our last group photo of the trip with many famous buildings and landmarks of Shanghai.

Before our dinner, we also stopped by the big Shanghai Book City to buy some stationery and books. There are seven floors of books, covering different genres, including English-language books. Some of us bought calligraphy sets to practise back in Singapore.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. The 6-Day Twinning Programme in China comes to a close as we board the bus after dinner to the airport. We have learnt much from this trip, and looking forward to sharing our experiences with our friends and family back in Singapore.

"I would like to thank all the teachers and students for making this trip such a memorable and fruitful one for me. I have participated in the china cultural Immersion programme for the past 2 years. However, to me, every trip is a brand new learning experience with new batches of students and colleagues. I hope that we can bring back the rich learning and apply in our work and daily life." – Mrs Ng-Goh Shwu Jun

"Both teachers and students benefited tremendously from this cultural immersion programme to China. We not only witness the conscientiousness and positive attitude displayed by the students of Qidu Middle School but also acquired a deeper understanding China's rich culture and heritage. This has been a memorable trip for all of us."– Dr Kaycee Chan

"This Cultural Immersion Programme has been an enriching experience for me. The students were very cooperative and open minded to try new experiences, especially the food and forging new friendships. The teachers worked well as a team, not only to ensure that the learning needs and safety of the students are met, but also, through our interactions and reflective dialogues, develop in them an inquisitive attitude to learn, to question our observations and appreciate different cultures. So I am very thankful for the dynamics in trip and the friendships that will be etched in our collective memories." -Ms Estelle Chong

“We had a warm reception at Qidu Middle School, with cultural performances put up by the local students and various traditional handicraft and Chinese calligraphy activities planned for the students. Visits to the various cultural and heritage sites, coupled with the rich sharing by our local guide, helped to deepen our interest and appreciation of China’s culture and heritage for both students and teachers alike.” - Mr Wong Poh Shen