Exchange Programme with Zhixin High School (7-11 April 2025)

15 of us travelled to Guangzhou in early April to experience what we would all later remember as a week of memorable outside-the-classroom learning, enjoyment and lasting friendships, which left fond memories we are sure to cherish for the years to come.

On Monday, Tuesday and Friday, we spent time at the main campus of Zhixin High School on Zhixin Road, while on Thursday we were at the International Branch Ersha Island campus. We were much awed by the picturesque campuses of Zhixin, where red and grey bricks as well as Chinese traditional designs weathered by the years gave feelings of solemnity and grandeur, while blooming green greenery all around completed a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. A pair of majestic stone qilin sculptures sat facing the front door of the school, silently guarding the Zhixin Building behind it, carrying the spirit of a never-ending pursuit of truth and reverence for virtue and learning.

We were treated to a tour in Zhixin’s school history museum under guidance of the curator, and through admiring the aged graduation certificates alongside a variety of collections, got insight into the school, which Mr. Sun Yat-sen established in memory of revolutionary Mr. Zhu Zhixin. We discovered that the first headmistress of our sister school was in fact a graduate from DGS, and it felt like a form of legacy carried on as we, the younger sisters of Ms. Liao Fengen, continue our connection after decades.

We got to try out some special courses provided at Zhixin. At the Zhixin Road campus, we crafted ceramic fridge decorations, learning about blessings symbolized by our moulds: from the four Chinese magical beasts of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise and Vermillion Bird (青龍，白虎，玄武，朱雀) to plants of good will like Ganoderma (靈芝). Later, we experimented with laser cutting, which though available at DGS, most of us had never tried. Teachers passionately explained how to control effects by adjusting the machine’s power and speed—an invaluable early exposure to these emerging technologies. After exploring its history, we then reinvented Lingnan Manchuria windows using markers and paint, witnessing how historical and modern aesthetics collide into bold new art.

 

 

At Ersha Island, kite-flying in PE proved challenging without wind, but we relished running across the Haixinsha Asian Games Park with our buddies. The Cantonese embroidery course in the afternoon amazed us with how ‘many a little makes a mickle’—just fern stitches and chain stitches transformed tie-dyed cloth (which our buddies prepared for us) into bookmarks with willow-leaf patterns, which were traditional tokens of friendship. Drama class had us wholly invested in ‘Look down, Look up’, ‘Zip Zap Boing’ and ‘Big Beauty’, games demanding focus and quick thinking. Learning the piece ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ from the musical ‘Hairspray’ surprised us by how much we enjoyed dancing to the rhythm with our friends.

Aside from the less conventional classes, we also took part in Zhixin students’ regular school day alongside our buddies in both campuses, allowing us to observe differences in our learning methods. For one, mainland students don’t use calculators, and we were completely blown away when the teacher approximated sin 37° as 0.6 instantly. 3D geometry problems initially baffled us, but their solutions often turned out more ingenious than expected.

Reading the Epang Palace Fu in Cantonese during Chinese class lent the text unique charm. IT lessons differed as well, as Zhixin students were analysing router connections while we seem to focus more on applications such as Adobe Photoshop. The daily whole-school run around the track, flanked by health banners, underscored their active lifestyle.

At the International Campus, we joined Literature and A-Level Biology classes. Studying Shakespeare, we amused ourselves with discussions on how he coined common phrases like ‘gossip’ and ‘green-eyed monster’. A short skit using his terms earned appreciative laughter. In Biology, we simulated natural selection, coincidentally aligning with the DGS curriculum.

Beyond the classroom, we had an outing on Wednesday to iconic attractions of Guangzhou where we observed the city firsthand as it is: full of vibrancy and beauty, tradition and innovation, development and environmental conservation. First was the visit to the 廣州環投福山環保能源有限公司, where the tour allowed us to realise just how far along and how determined the Guangzhou government and people were in the course of protecting our Earth and the facilities built to educate visitors are really effective in raising awareness on the matter of conservancy. Over 9300 tonnes of waste is sedimented and burnt to produce treated water that could be used for irrigation from leachate, extracted precious metals, clean air, and environmentally friendly water-absorbent bricks on a daily basis at the plant – a leading example of turning waste to resources. We were also reminded that at the end of the day, however, the solution lies not only in reusing, but reducing waste, to address the root cause of the problem. 

After lunch, we explored the Chen Family Ancestral Hall, built for Chen descendants taking imperial exams. The carefully landscaped design, intricate carvings of good omens and bat motifs (symbolizing prosperity) reflected the families’ hopes and cares for their children. A brief stop at the Guangdong Museum showcased stunning pottery and porcelain, their simplicity and deep historical significance mesmerizing passersby.

    

Afterwards, we strolled to Flower City Square where we could see the Haixinsha Asian Games Park, Canton Tower and the International Finance Centre (IFC). Proceeding to the top floor of the Canton Tower, we gained a bird’s-eye view of the charm of the city.

In the evening, we had a pleasant time sightseeing on the Zhujiang River (or Pearl River). Feeling the breeze as we sailed, the prosperity of nighttime Guangzhou captivated us completely. Lights of skyscrapers and streetlights glimmered equally against the black backdrop, with the river reflecting them as well, painting an absolutely stunning picture.

We sincerely thank our school and Zhixin High School for this exchange trip that revealed to us more of Guangzhou’s wonder and potential. While we knew mainland China was technologically advanced, the trip showed us new perspectives in environmental conservation and beyond. No pictures or words could capture fully this 3-dimensional city with not just its renowned sights but also ordinary moments like school days and bustling shops flashing by bus windows that collectively define Guangzhou. Much more than a city, Guangzhou is a home to countless dreams and steady determination to improve our country. We're blessed to have witnessed this firsthand. Special thanks to Mrs. SY To and Mr. K Cheung for their care throughout the trip, and to Zhixin's teachers and staff for their warm hospitality. To our Zhixin buddies, we deeply admire your learning passion and will never forget your kindness. We eagerly await your return visit!