On the 9^th to 13^th of April, 26 Form 4 students took part in an exchange to Guangzhou, China, where we experienced school life at Guangzhou Zhixin High School as well as visited some local spots. 

On the day of arrival, we met up with our school buddies for dinner at Zhixin High School, then toured along Zhujiang on a boat. During that time, we were able to appreciate the vibrant lights and skyline that framed the picturesque view of Guangzhou’s night sky. Our buddies told us more about themselves and introduced us to the city's stunning landmarks. Through our conversations, we also found out that life as a student in Guangzhou was quite different from that in Hong Kong.

Our second day was spent at Zhixin High School, where we attended a dance class and a pottery-making class. We were able to learn more about Zhixin High School’s history and values through a lecture and visiting their own school museum, which was an eye-opening experience. We also toured around their beautiful school campus, which was very large in size. Most of the buildings were named after famous historical people, many of whom contributed to the school. We also took part in the yearly Qingming Festival ceremony, where we visited the Yellow Flower Mound Park and the Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs to pay respect to the martyrs. This gave us an opportunity to step foot in the places we learnt about in Chinese History lessons and to truly immerse ourselves in Chinese culture. 

On the third day, we attended classes with our buddies. Although our buddies were also in Form 4, the topics they learnt were more advanced. Their learning approaches also differed from ours, so we were able to experience a new way of learning through attending their lessons. The students were very diligent and went to every class fully prepared, which ensured that all the lessons could run smoothly without a hitch. Through experiencing a full day of school with our buddies, we were able to understand more about what school life was like in Guangzhou.

On the fourth and fifth day, we visited some local attractions. First, we went to a car factory, where we were surprised to see the high level of technology demonstrated in the process of making vehicles. Later, we visited the Chimelong Safari Park, where we saw many different animals from a close distance. At night, we enjoyed a spectacular and thrilling circus performance. The next morning, we visited the Canton Tower, which is the tallest structure in China. We were introduced to the architectural design behind the tower, as well as the structures that kept the skyscraper stable amidst strong wind.

Time flew quickly and we soon had to board the bus back to Hong Kong. In these five days, we learnt many wonderful things and had a lot of fun. On behalf of all the exchange students, we would like to thank Mrs. Lau for providing us with such a wonderful and precious opportunity. It was truly an unforgettable exchange experience for us, and we hope that our school’s friendship with Zhixin High School will continue for many years to come.

Reported by: Audrey Fu & Cecilia Lam (4U)

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