Year 8 Residential Update from Qufu 2023

To succeed in the world, our students first explore it! Our residential programme is an integral part of our curriculum here. It broadens our students’ horizons and help them form lifelong friendships. We have worked closely with our service providers to ensure that the students will experience a wide range of engaging and educational activities that include elements of cultural immersion, challenge, and community building.

Date: Monday 12th June to Friday 16th June, 2023

Please see daily updates from Mr. Mendez and Mr. Mireku

Day 1

We arrived in Qufu today after a nice train ride, we immediately went to the hotel and had lunch. After lunch, we visited Confucius temple and the family home. Students learned about his early life and importance in modern civilization. Afterwards, we went for dinner before heading to the hotel for some more activities and rest.

Day 2

Today, we visited 2 more Confucius sites in Qufu and students did some printing, sculpting and archery. Students also participated in a beautiful ceremony to honor teachers and saw a performance from a group of local artists. We also went on a long walk through Confucius cemetery and learnt more about his importance in modern China.

Day 3

Today in sunny Shandong, students started their day by hopping on a bus to go to Taian. Later, they enjoyed multiple physical activities where they had to challenge themselves, like kayaking, rock climbing and tree top walking. We also had some organic fruit from a local farm and finished the day playing games around a bonfire. Students did a great job supporting each other throughout the day and enjoying their time together.

Day 4

Today, Year 8 students visited Mount Tai, one of China's UNESCO heritage sites. Students challenge themselves with a long hike and learned more about the importance of this beautiful place in Chinese history. Tomorrow, students will be returning to Beijing after spending a week in Shandong full of interesting experiences that will hopefully last a lifetime.