Jing yan's OELP trip reflection

I did not go for the trip, OELP, however, I seen some of my group members description of places they went to and their reflections. I am now going to talk about what I have learnt throught reading their reflections.

Day 1:

Places visited were just the hotel and the restaurant.

I could see how knowlegable and friendly this tour guide is as he explained to them many aspects of China like from common crimes to the Chinese culture. He must be a very approachable tour guide who is willing to help us learn from this trip and not waste the time and money coming to china.

Day 2: places visited,

城隍庙,陆家嘴 Finance & Trade Zone,上海 Book City,南京 Road, The Bund & French Concession

From these places, I could see that china has mordenised very rapidly from the last 30 years. in the past, where could you even find such a huge bookstore who has a whole building dedicated to it. Also modern shops are everywhere for you to go shopping and there are many nice buildings in the bund & French concession. Compared to singapore whose land is so limited, I believe that with the resources china has, china will grow even more rapidly ahead of us. We could even say that shanghai was overtaken singapore as they have so much to see and and everything is so modernized.

Day 3:

Places visited were the school immersion in 上海市南洋中学, shanghai urban planning building and 

文庙街.

From the school immersion, the students there were very friendly to us and will not keep a distance away from us just because we are foreign people. Instead, they offered to clarify any questions about the school and the lessons. They were good people who showed cocern despite the short stay.

Next, haidilao, was the place for lunch. It was a hotpot lunch as we eat from the same hotpot on each table. The teacher and research told us that haidilao is supposed to have top service. However, good service happened for 1 table only, which the waiter explained the history of haidilao. We were disappointed, but I felt that to avoid disappointment, we should just expect the bare minimum objectives only which was to eat a meal, which we did. Thus, do not expect the most out of everything to avoid being disappointed if they are unable to do so.

After that was the shanghai urban planning building, which we saw the little buildings of shanghai.

Then there was this 文庙街 we went. It was a deserted area with little poor people. I learnt that despite how successful shanghai is, some people will still fall behind and be unable to catch up with the living standards.

Day 4:

Last day in 上海市南洋中学

Visit to oriental dreamworks

 复旦大学

We went to the sister school one last time to attend lessons and say goodbye. We appreciated thier guidance throughout the 2 days and had fun and learnt a lot of academic stuff with them. We even sang 立化情 to them to show our gratitude that "在立化我不孤单" to them

Next, was the oriental dreamworks. Inside was snapshots for the upcoming Kung fu panda 3. It was a surpirse as we were not planned to go here in the itinery.

Then, we went to feudal university to greet our RV seniors studying there. We sang 立化情 as well. I feel touched that even though they are busy with their work, they still chose the time to come here to interact with us, their juniors, and teach us stuff we can learn. They must have been good to see their juniors coming to see them.

Day 5:

Hangzhou

Zhejiang university

We took 3 hr bus ride to hhangzhou. We went to see the university, who was bigger than fudan university as they had became more modern than fudan university as fudan university wanted to protect their cultures by keeping the old buildings. This shows how the chinese value their roots and we should do so too.

Day 6:

West lake

岳飞庙

西湖之夜

We went to see the west lake. It was much more peaceful and nicer than our chinese garden one, who is not even comparable. China surely has many beautiful sights, whether natural or man-made. Next was the 岳飞庙 where we leant the past or 岳飞 and how he was honored to have a place named after him. I could feel that history was so wonderful and interesting as it affects the present. Then we went to 西湖之夜 an acrobatics show depicting a story. It was an excellent show for us to not only see, but to learn from the content as well. Even though the one-wheel bikers were dangerously doing stunts, they did a great job of performing.

Day 7:

Last day

Trip to shanghai

七宝古镇

田子坊

Last day of OELP. We went to shanghai and to the two places to do last minute shopping and flew back to singapore. We certainly learnt a lot from this OELP Trip

Amelia's OELP Trip Reflection

Day 1: 

It was the first day of our OELP trip and I was very excited as it was the first time going overseas with my class with out my parents with me. I was worried that I might get homesick and miss my parents in china but I told myself that it is about time I became more independent and learn how to take care of myself. I boarded the plane with my friends and said goodbye to Singapore. Fortunately, my friends were there to cheer me up and made me forget about my parents. After we landed in Shanghai, I was very excited, all my worries and anxiety turned in excitement and happiness. We ate dinner then went to our hotel. The tour guide was very friendly and tried his best to tell us whatever he knows. Although most of us were too tired and did not listen attentively, he still tried to explain the culture and lifestyle in china. 

Day 2: 

Today, we went to 城隍庙, 上海书城, 南京路, the Bund and French concession, and went around the 陆家嘴金融区. Firstly, we went to 城隍庙, there were a lot of people there and it made me think of Chinatown in Singapore. It was a shopping paradise, there were a lot of shops there, selling a lot of stuff ranging from fake egg with painting to stuff toys. There were a lot of traditional Chinese stuff such as painting and traditional Chinese instruments like dizi. Next, we went to 陆家嘴金融区 and 上海书城. There were so many books! It was a seven storey high building with millions of book in it. I noticed that you could actually take a book and seat at the side and read it and no one will stop you. That means that you can just read all the books for free if you want to. It was very strange to me, it sells books but you can read them for free if you stayed there. It did not make sense to me as in Singapore, you will have to pay if you want to read a book. It was difinitely worth visiting it as I was able to immerse myself into reading and was definitely an eye opener for me. 

Day 3: 

Today was the first day where we had to put on our uniforms during the trip. I was not excited as it was very warm in china. We have to go to 南洋中学 for our immersion, I was not very excited as I thought it would be very boring but turns out, it was very fun. The teachers were very friendly and approachable and was still very welcoming even though we were late. The teacher was filled with excitement and enthusiasm when he welcomed us. The students were very friendly and tried to speak to us in english as we were not really accustomed to the environment. They took the effort to show us around the school. The activities were also very fun and engaging and it made us very interested. In the end we made a lot of friends and enjoyed our time there. We then went to haidilao. I had very high expectations as I was told that their service was very good but turns out they did not meet my expectations. I felt that they were very bias as the table with the teachers were actually treated better than the rest. The waiters actually took the time to talk and explain to them but ignored the rest of us. I felt very disappointed with the service when I realised they were bias. Then we went to 文庙街. We realised that they were the poorer parts of the country and the difference was huge. It was very old ans I was very shocked as where we went previously were all very modernize and I could not believe how poor and old this part of the country was. 

Day 4: 

The first place that we went was 南洋中学. It was our last day there and we were very sad. We went listen to their lessons and one of the students actually leaked the secret that they had already went through the lesson beforehand to me. I was flabbergasted. I felt that they should not do that as it is very fake and they are like lying to us in a way but I know that they did that to make sure that nothing will go wrong when we came. Next, we went to dream works where I was fascinated with everything they do, how they make the animation move and everything. They also showed us a few characters that will be coming out in kongfu panda 3 and was told not to leak it to others. They explained to us how they create the animations and how many drafts they have to do before deciding on the final product and it was a lot. Next, we went to 复旦大学. Our senior there showed us around and told us how it feels like living in china and studying there. She told us that china students are very hardworking and rushes to class every morning 2 hours before the class starts, to revise. I was very shocked as they were more hardworking than I had expected and felt that they pose a great danger to me as when I grow up, I will be competing against then. I decided to work hard so that I will not lag behind. 

Day 5: 

Today, we travelled from Shanghai to zhejiang. It was a 3 hours bus ride and the whole class was very restless. When we reached zhejiang, we went to visit zhejiang university. I was very shocked when I reach zhejiang university as it was very modernize and big compared to 复旦大学. I was very confused to why the environment was better when 复旦大学 was a higher rank than zhejiang university. Then, we were told that it was because 复旦大学 had a longer history and they want to keep the old buildings and their history. While zhejiang university did not really have a long history and was very new. Also, zhejiang university was combined by four universities resulting to it being very big. 

Day 6: 

Today, we went around west lake in a jetty and looked at all the beautiful scenery. We also went to the pagoda. You could see the top view of the west lake and it was very beautiful. There was also the remains of the actual pagoda and a lot of shops. I learn a lot about the historical backgrounds of west lake and the story of 白蛇传. Next, we went to 岳飞庙. I learnt that he was very loyal to his country and his king and contributed a lot to southern Song Dynasty. 

Day 7: 

Today was our last day and we took our 3 hours bus ride back to Shanghai. We went to 七宝古镇 to find that it was very crowded, we were literally bumping shoulders with each other. There were a lot of shops there but as it was very crowded, we were not allowed to shop and were rushed to the next place, 田子坊. I learnt about the constructive features of the traditional architectural style and was immersed into their culture. After that, we went to board our plane back to Singapore. Although it was only a seven day trip, I still experienced the china culture and how it differs form our country. It was definitely a trip worth going. 

Shanghai trip advisor (visited 25/05/14-31/05/14)

Day 1: 

SSAW Hotel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

It was spacious enough for 2 people to stay in and the food covers a wide range of variety. However, the dimly lit corridor gives a very chilling and spooky atmosphere and scared some of us. I am quite impressed with the facilities in the hotel which include wifi and a gym.

Day 2: 

城隍庙(The city god temple) 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

It is full of heritage, making it an ideal tourist attraction for those who want to understand the history of China. The area around the temple are bustling with people buying souvenirs and items from the small shops there. The items are attractive and sold at a low price, perfect for a good bargain.

上海书城( Shanghai book city)

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

Entering the seven story building, we were greeted by a never ending collection of books. There were shelves and stacks of books everywhere, with its contents ranging from cook books to chess tricks and even musical pieces. With the books conveniently categorized into their various genres, it helps customers find the book that they are interested in within a short amount of time. However, despite the valuable collection of books, I do not really recommend it to tourists as only tourists with an interest in books will enjoy the experience, whereas tourists that do not maybe feel a little bored.

南京路(Nanjing Road)

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

It was very modern and high end shops line the sides of the street. Many brands that can be found in Singapore can be found there. I rate it a 3/5 because the things sold there are quite extravagant, and some tourists might not be able to afford it. I encountered a beggars begging for money there too.

外滩(the bund) 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

The bund is a wonderful place along the river to observe the beautiful scenery and architecture. It's picturesque surroundings also provides a great opportunity to take photos as remembrance. 

Day 3:

School Immersion

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

It was definitely fun to make friends with people from other country. Despite us being late, they did not change their attitude in welcoming us and we were very touched by that. The students over there were so very friendly and approachable. The physics lesson and the craft work session was definitely fun and engaging. I would definitely want to visit the school again. 

Haidilao

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

Due to the online reviews, I was expecting a lot from the restaurant however due to the inconsistency in the service, I am actually very disappointed. They only explained the history of haidilao to only 1 table and it was the same table that had lesser amount of food and most of us were still hungry even after the meal. Also, we expected the restaurant to have lots of customers. In fact, there were only a few. This might probably be due to the fact that it wasn't a very popular restaurant to start with. Thus, I am very disappointed with their service but it might probably be due to the fact that I expected a lot from haidilao. However, it was also very entertaining to have a show that a man was trying to stretch the dough of our food and turn into a fun and engaging experience.

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

It was actually nice to be in the exhibition hall to see the different models that they constructed. There is also a huge model in it, showing the whole of Shanghai and another model showing the bund. I feel that it was very detailed and intricate.

The feeling of looking at the whole of Shanghai so small but crowded is definitely fun and interesting. I would love to go there again.

Day 4: 

Oriental DreamWorks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

It is definitely a rare opportunity to tour around some parts of the Oriental DreamWorks company, where they produce animations. The company is very big and comfortable, where the staff of the company are seated at their desks producing animations. We were able to see some of the scenes and characters of a new animation which is still under production, which is confidential and not supposed to be reveal to the public, so we were not allowed to take pictures. It was truly an interesting experience. 

Fudan University （复旦大学）

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

The buildings of Fudan University were quite old and there was not many modern facilities for the students, as Fudan University has a long history and they wanted to preserve the old buildings. The University is very big and people have to ride on bicycles and motorcycles around the school.

The senior also stated that the tables and chairs in the university are quite old. However, it was a nice and good experience to tour around one of the top Universities.

Wenmiao Street （文庙街）

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

As Wenmiao Street is a really old street, the houses on the street are old and the walls have cracks. The people living on the street are poor and they have lived there for a long time. There were also quite a lot of shops selling food, clothes and toys and people selling things along the street. It was a good experience to see how poorer side of Shanghai is. 

Day 5:

Zhejiang university

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

It was nice to see what was the environment that the students there study in and compare it with 复旦大学. It was very big, very modern and the environment was very nice. 

Hangzhou Vina Hotel: 

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

The room was very spacious and comfortable but there was no wifi in the room and it was very troublesome as most of us wanted to contact our parents. The food covers a wide range of variety but not as good as the hotel in Shanghai.

Zhejiang university

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It was nice to see what was the environment that the students there study in and compare it with 复旦大学. It was very big, very modern and the environment was very nice. 

Day 6:

Yue Fei Mausoleum （岳王庙)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

This temple was built in honour of Yue Fei, a famous general of the Southern Song dynasty. It's history could be traced back to the year 1221. With rich history, Yue Fei's tomb and other interesting things, this place is truly worth a visit, especially for people who likes China history.

Westlake (西湖)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a must-see site that all must not miss. It has influenced my poets and artists for its beauty and historical relics. We were also able to ride a ferry around it and observe it close-up. 

 Lei Feng Pagoda（杭州雷峰塔)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

As an octagonal, five-storey brick and wood structure, it is famous for the story 《白蛇传》("The Legend of the White Snake")  where a character was rumored to be under this pagoda and is one of the ten scenery of west lake (西湖十景之一) .

As you enter the pagoda, you could see the ruins of its previous collapsed pagoda and you would learn about "The Legend of the White Snake" through the words and pictures on the wall. At the top level, you would be able to have a heavenly view of the area. It is definitely worth a visit!

Day 7:

Qibao Ancient Street

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

It was nice to be able to see and appreciate the beauty of all the old architecture and old bridges.

It is a great place to shop if you have got the time. There are also a lot of smelly tofu stalls over there.

 

Tianzifang:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5/5)

There were a lot of shops there selling very different things. It was very crowded and the whole place was like a maze. We all shopped a lot over there as you can anything from there at a very low price. 

Yi Ki's OELP reflection

Day 1:  25/6

As my family sent me off at the airport with well wishes, I was left at the Changi Airport with my classmates and teachers. We boarded the plane and took an approximately five hours flight. It was my first flight to China but I was bored by the long flight and was not expecting the trip to be enjoyable in every way. Our arrival at the Shanghai Pudong Airport was welcomed by an unfamiliar man, our tour guide who picked us up and brought us to the restaurant for our dinner. On our way to the restaurant, our tour guide, 黄导， introduced us the brief history of Shanghai. We tasted several unique Shanghai dishes which did not suited my taste buds as they were too salty or too unfamiliar. We were then brought to the SSAW Hotel which was rather grand and was better than I thought it would be. We were then told to write a letter to our future self on this trip. 

Content of the letter:

Dear me, 

              I hope the trip was not too boring for me. I would like myself to be able to answer these questions which I have always been curious about after this trip:

-China seem so prosperous. Why is its currency smaller than it should be?

-What is the pace of living in China?

I hope that I had enjoyed this trip and brought many meaningful memories back to Singapore.

Your past self,

Yi Ki

The informative 黄导游 also left me a deep impression with the origin of the other name of Shanghai, 申 (Shen) which was found on car plates of Shanghai's vehicles. The name could be traced back to 战国时期 where 楚国申君黄歇 was in charge of this city, it was name Shen due to this man. I was surprised by the long history that Shanghai have, unlike Singapore's short history. From the old fishing town of Shanghai, it have developed to such a prosperous city. It reminds of the old fishing village, Temasek, which is the current Singapore. I was rather surprised that Shanghai have a similar history of being once a fishing village. Overall, today was informative for me since I gained much more knowledge from our tour guide and tasted unfamiliar dishes which would have never tried. 

Day 2:  26/6

Today started with  a  long bus ride to the Lujiazui Finance and Trade zone (陆家嘴金融区) where we toured the area in the bus starting with the most significant landmark there, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower as the highlight of the area. The tower is surrounded by Yangpu Bridge and Nanpu Bridge which creates a scenery of “双龙戏珠” ( 'twin dragons(the bridges) playing with pearls(oriental pearl TV tower)  ). It is 468m tall and I could hardly see the top. 

After a brief introduction of surrounding building, we proceeded to The City God Temple (城隍庙） which is located within the old walled city. People visits this temple to pray for good fortune and peace. We were walking by ourselves in the temple. As a Buddhist and Taoist, I prayed and toured around the area and nothing was exceptionally interesting there. Afterwards, we left through the side exit which led to a shopping area surrounded by Yuyuan Garden(豫园）, the temple and the Old Shanghai Street(上海老街）.  While walking around this area, I hear an old song being played repeatedly. Hence, I questioned the stall older about it and she said that it was a song called 上海滩 which means Shanghai. I think it is quite meaningful to play a song which represents a city.

Our journey then continued with the Shanghai Book City which was practically a seven-storey book store. We were encouraged to buy Chinese book but nothing really interests me. Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street was our next destination. It is not only the main shopping streets in Shanghai, but also one of the world's busiest shopping streets! However due to fatigue, I could hardly walk and of course, shopping was out of topic. How I wish I was in the hotel sleeping. Last but not least, our last stop of the day is French concession and Bund. The picturesque Bund is definitely worth a visit. Unfortunately, we were unable to have a look at it nocturnal scene which was said to be much better than the day's scene. I could not take my eyes off French concession as well as it seem so "Europe looking". I remembered someone commented that when she look at the Bund, it feels like the she in the prosperous China city but when she turn around to look at the French Concession, it feels like she is in French. Well, I feel similarly too, as if the Bund represents the East; French Concession represents the West.

After another meal, we ended our day. During our journey, I notice that beggars are common and I presume that this is due to the high cost of living in Shanghai, as mentioned by the tour guide. Despite the fact that there are many with high income, people who live in poverty still exist. I can conclude that Chinese have huge income gap, with people living way below the poverty line and vice-versa. Overall, it have been an eye opener for me. However, I am so 

tired that I would sleep the whole day tomorrow if I could.

Day 3: 27/5

Basically, we experienced the heavily congested traffic of Shanghai on our way to Shanghai Nanyang High School which resulted in our late arrival in the school. I would say that the hosting teacher, Mr Lu, was really patient to wait for us and was nice to welcome us warmly. After an introductory talk by the school's vice principal, a physics teacher came to conduct a short lesson about using a piece of A4 paper to build the tallest tower without the use of tape and glue. The lesson end with example of ways to build tall and sturdy paper towers. Our buddies who rushed down during their break to meet us earlier on came once again. We were supposed to make a 香包(fragrant pack) but due to the chaos, I followed my buddy to tour the school before leaving the school. Through observations and questions, I realised that the student were supposed to eat in class and allowed to enter the stuff room which is totally different from our school. 

Haidilao which was supposed to be the highlight of the day ended up as great disappointment. Food was barely sufficient despite the amazing service. I was surprised that a stuff would turn the tap on and off for me, put hand soap on my palm and give warm towel to me just to wash my hands. 

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall was under tight security due to the conference taking place these few days. There were awesome models of the city of Shanghai that impressed me.

Shanghai Wenmiao street was our next destination where we walked the whole street till a certain point and turn back and board the bus. I do observe that there was a rubbish dump which smells as though it have not been cleared for a few days and the residents there lived in rundown houses with shared areas but I do not think that the residents live in extreme poverty since many of them posses hand phones and other gadgets.

Last but not least, after our dinner, we were welcomed with endless reprimands and discussions. Honestly, I just want to sleep. As a early sleeper, staying up late just to be scolded and conduct discussion is making me sick. Even my parents who tried to contact me had to stay up later than usual. I am starting to dislike this trip.

Day 4: 28/5

Second and last day at Shanghai Nanyang High School, we witnessed the morning exercise and the students' orderly way of jogging to the parade square. With force, interest and embarrassment, I joined the morning exercise with the class. I guess we were like a bunch of monkeys trying to fit it. We then sung '立化情' as a class before splitting into groups to attend different classes. I attended the English class and realised that the difficulty level of the lesson was average, similar to our current standard. The students were honest and responded fast to the teacher with some exceptions. For instance, when a student is called, he would stand up straight immediately and if he is unsure of the answer, he would be honest and admit that he does not know the answer. It was a rare opportunity to observe a foreign class having a lesson.

Thanks to Mr Lu, my class got the opportunity to visit the Oriental Dreamworks company! We observed the different types of work animators do and was able to see the process of making animations. It is certainly an unexpected and rare opportunity.

Lunch was followed by a visit to Fudan University, where a few of our seniors study. Guided by enthusiastic seniors, we were brought around the campus. As the introduction and meeting comes to an end, our senior reminded us to study hard as she send us off. 

In my opinion, today is the most meaningful day among the other days. I got to visit a foreign school which made me review in my studies, an animation company showed me the origin of my favorite animation films and a capable senior gives study tips. I am probably crazy but I found passion to study out of nowhere.

Day 5: 29/5

“上有天堂，下有苏杭”

This means there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below. It was said that the heavenly scenery is comparable to the heaven. And hence, our day started with a 3 hours' bus ride to Hangzhou. I observe many crop fields, possibly rice fields and thought that farming in China is still very important, for both their own consumption and exportation. 

We reached and had our long awaited lunch before proceeding to the prestigious institute of higher education, Zhejiang University. A brief introduction of its 国际设计研究院 is followed by a bus tour around the large campus. 

Qing Hefang Ancient Street was our next stop. It is a well preserved part of an ancient city which have been developed into a shopping district. We were then dismissed for shopping before dinner where the tour guide was replaced. Lastly, we went to the Hangzhou Vina Hotel which had poorer facilities. It's wifi is only available at the lobby and there are people who left prostitution cards at the door of the hotel rooms. This left be a poor impression of a Hangzhou. 

Day 6: 30/5

Yue Fei Mausoleum （岳王庙）was our first stop. I was looking forward to visiting this place since I like historical stories such as 《三国演义》. And Yue Fei was an important general in the history who have stories told till today. This temple was built in honour of Yue Fei, the famous general of the Southern Song dynasty. It's history could be traced back to the year 1221. With rich history and great significance behind every statues and words, this place is truly worth a visit. I really enjoyed the time spent here.

Next, we headed to the must-go freshwater lake Westlake (西湖）which was famous for its natural beauty as well as the it historical relics. As one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it have influenced many poets and artists throughout history.  We were also able to ride a ferry around it and observe it close-up as we learn about the brief history of West Lake and it's ten sceneries: 平湖秋月、苏堤春晓、断桥残雪、雷峰夕照、南展晚钟、麯院风荷、花港观鱼、柳浪闻莺、三漳印月

Lei Feng Pagoda（杭州雷峰塔）collapsed years ago. A new pagoda was then built on top of the ruins.  The octagonal, five-storey brick and wood structure is famous for the story 《白蛇传》("The Legend of the White Snake")  where one of the characters, 白娘子 was rumored to be trap under this pagoda. The trip there was an enriching journey where I learnt briefly about "The Legend of the White Snake" through the words and pictures on the wall. A highlight is the scenery from the top level, you would be able to have a magnificent view of the area.

The highlight of the day is most probably '西湖之夜', a stunning and impressive musical and acrobatics show. It was indescribable, it have six scenes: '岳王雄风', '南宋盛景', '梁祝情缘', '东方佛光', '风雅西湖' and a finale where 4 bikers rode into a large spherical cage at full speed, circling 360 degrees with dangerously high risks of crashing. 

I enjoyed today's journey since I liked 三国 stories and stage performances. It was memorable to spend my birthday at places that I like. 

Day 7: 31/5

转眼间，我们的中国旅已来到了尾声。In the blink of an eye, our OELP trip is coming to an end. It is the last day in China. We walk through the scenic 七宝古镇 briefly and was only able to snap a few shots of photos.

Soon, we were at Shanghai TianZiFang. Being the arts and craft enclave, it is described as "a cosy little lane district". 

In my opinion, it is indeed cosy and I really like the interesting and creative businesses. As a result, I ended up shopping and buying lots of things. One of the shop which left a deep impression was a tiny shop with only a window and a door. It sells cupcakes that were so nice that I cannot forget its tastes, such rich flavours and sponge like soft cake accompanied by creamy texture, it is worth the price. I think it is also creative and money-saving to own a small shop which sells marvelous cupcakes. In addition, Shanghai TianZiFang was a unique Shikumen architect. This means that TianZiFang was made with a traditional Shanghainese architecture style which is distinguished by high brick walls enclosing a narrow front yard. 

Through this trip I learnt a lot more about China. For instance, the interesting stories and sayings behind some words or places. I feel that it is a rare opportunity for me to travel. Overall, I enjoyed this trip and feel that most of the time spent was meaningful. Even though there were times that I was bored or regretted this trip, I feel that this trip was experiential and fun. I am glad I came for this trip.

 

AnQi's OELP Reflection

Day 1 Reflection (25/5/14)(SUN):

Today, when we got down from the plane, some of us are very tired from the journey and some of us are very excited about coming to a new country and being on our own without our parents. We met our tour guide who was very kind and introduced us to Shanghai on the journey to the restaurant for our dinner. He also mentioned many facts about Shanghai although I don't understand most of the things. However, he was patient enough to explain it slowly and telling us the significance of different skyscrapers that we pass by on the bus journey. He also warned us the fact that China has a lot of pickpockets and to ensure our safety, he told us that at all times, our bag are suppose to be in front of us. He said that "包包在后面是别人的, 包包在旁边一人一半, 包包在前面是自己的". I feel that this saying is very interesting but true. In order to ensure that our valuables are safe, we need to be responsible and place our bags in front to safeguard our items ourselves. I hope that I would be able to learn more about China's education system and

Day 2 Reflection (26/5/14)(MON):

Places that we visited:

1) 城隍庙

2) 陆家嘴 Finance & Trade Zone

3) 上海 Book City

4) 南京 Road

5) The Bund & French Concession

Looking at the structure of the building, 城隍庙 is actually a temple where people can pray for safety of the family however, walking further into the temple, it seems to turn into a small Orchard Road in Singapore. There are a lot of shops selling souvenirs and food. At the "small town" in there, there are 2 Starbucks Coffee which made me doubt why is there a need to have the same shop in the same area. It seems like 城隍庙 is very good in catering to the needs of different age groups. For the elders, they can visit the temple to pray and for the youngsters and tourists, they can visit the temple with their elders to shop for souvenirs and also grabbing some food to eat. Also, this temple also has a rich history since the Ming Dynasty. Thus, I feel that the success of 城隍庙 is contributed by the fact that it is able to cater to different age groups.

* I feel that 城隍庙 has 2 Starbucks Coffee is so that they can reduce the queueing time for the customers as there is quite a big crowd buying food and drinks from Starbucks.

At the 陆家嘴 & 上海 Book City, I feel that it is amazing that Shanghai has a building that sells so much books. In the Book City, there are so many different types of book ranging from Children Books to Medical Books to English Books (Imported). How I wish that Singapore also has a building like this so that it can help the customers to save time by allowing them to buy the books they want at one go. Despite having books there, the Book City also has a Starbucks Coffee where the customers can take a break and have a coffee. I feel that the architect of the building is very mindful and has taken the needs of the customers into consideration. Thus, I feel that the 上海 Book City is definitely a place that we should visit. Visiting 南京 Road is definitely an eye opener where some shops sells traditional craft word and some sell fashionable stuff where teenagers nowadays would shop for.

Day 3 Reflection (27/5/14)(TUE):

Today, we were suppose to go to 上海市南洋中学. However, due to the fact that some of us are late and that there was a heavy traffic, we reached the school by 9am. Even so, the teacher that was expecting us was not angry. But instead warmly welcomed us. There was even a signboard that specially welcomed us. I was quite touched that they were expecting us for a long time and had planned out the activities well. It was definitely a new experience to visit other schools and understand their teaching style. We had our first physics lesson in Chinese where we are suppose to build a tower with an A4 size paper and that the tallest tower will win. We also tried to place ping-pong balls, tennis balls and golf balls on the top of the tower. Through this lesson, I learnt that no matter what mission that may seem impossible, there will always be a possible way out. After that, we were suppose to had some handy craft work by doing a fragrant bag however, excited students came in and we were probably too shy to communicate with them that in the end, we gathered together at the side of the room. Seeing that we were chatting among ourselves, our buddies even initiate to bring us around the school to see. They seemed ashamed that at that time when we visited their school, it was kind of rundown for they were preparing to shift into a new school campus where it is bigger. With that, we left the school and went to our next destination which is the 海底捞. I actually expected a lot from 海底捞since it had been famous for their incredible service. However, when we reached there, I felt that it was not expected. Our class feedback that the service was not unison to all 3 tables which is what I think should be expected in every restaurant in the world. However, it may be due to the lack of manpower. However, I was very shocked when I came out from the toilet to wash my hands and the waiter initiate to press some soap foam into my hands. After so, he even gave me a warm towel. So, I would said some parts of the service is superb while some parts is still average. Moving on to our next destination, we went to 文庙街to see the poorer parts of China and compare the difference. We are kind of shocked to realize that the difference was actually huge. With that, we went to have our dinner and went back to our hotel.

Day 4 Reflection (28/5/14)(WED):

Today is our second and last day in 上海市南洋中学. We saw how the students entered their parade square to attend their morning assembly and they also did morning stretching. After that, we sang 立化情for the buddies that took care of us these 2 days. After so, the school teacher brought us to the Oriental DreamWorks. We even get a chance to talk to the staffs that were designing the KungFu Panda 3 that will be out during next year. I was flabbergasted when I saw how much effort had to be put in just to create a scene. After that, we went to lunch and went to 复旦大学to meet our RV seniors who introduced her campus to us and she also found some of her friends from Singapore to help along. We also sang her 立化情and gave her some present as a token of appreciation. I was very touched that all these seniors spent their studying time to talk to us and entertain us even though it was a competitive school where they had to treasure every minute to study. After that, we went for our dinner and head back to the hotel.

Day 5 Reflection (29/5/14)(THUR):

Today, we had to travel to Hangzhou for 3 hours and when we board the bus, everyone was preparing to sleep which was a good opportunity for us to complete our photo mission which is to snap a photo of our group mates sleeping with their mouth open. It was definitely funny looking at how people are able to sleep on the bus. So, our main agenda today is to visit 浙江大学. We went there and realized that the school was even bigger and nicer looking than 复旦大学. After that we went back to our hotel to have our debrief of the day which is comparing the differences of both universities in China. 

Day 6 Reflection (30/5/14)(FRI):

Today, we spent a lot of time around the west lake and we also took a jetty to see the beautiful scenery by the lake. We also went to the pagoda to see the ruins of the old one and also to learn about the history of the pagoda. We also went to the 岳飞庙where we learnt about the history and death of 岳飞. The were 4 statues kneeling in front of his grave and we were shocked to the fact that they barricade the statues up for the Chinese had spit on these statues and how they had managed to throw all these statues into the sea. It shows that their hatred towards these 4 sinners is very extreme to the extend they can even throw them into the sea. After that, we went to watch a night show called 西湖之夜 where it first showed the story of 梁山伯与祝英台however, it ended up in a acrobatic show where 4 women riding in their motorcycle entered into a huge metallic ball and started riding around it. It was definitely a dangerous but interesting show that we might not be able to see in Singapore. With that, we ended our day.

Day 7 Reflection (31/5/14)(SAT):

Today is our last day in China. We packed all our luggage and went back to Shanghai with our 3 hours bus journey. We went to 七宝古镇to see the streets only to realize that it was very crowded. After so, we went to 田子坊to do some last minute shopping. With that, we find back to Shanghai airport to fly back to Singapore. Even though this trip might only be a short 7 days, but I have definitely experienced a lot more about China, knowing the difference between China and Singapore like the traffic condition and the educational system.

Xuan Ying's OELP daily reflection

Day 1

Today is the start of our OELP journey. We gathered at Singapore Changi Airport in the morning, boarded the plane and departed for Shanghai. I was very excited as I thought the trip would be a fun and good learning experience. On the plane, we chatted excitedly with our friends, watched nice movies, ate food and played games. After about 5 hours of flight, we arrived at 上海浦东机场. We met our tour guide, 黄导游, and boarded the bus to go to the restaurant that we will have our dinner at. During the bus ride, 黄导游 told us a brief introduction of Shanghai and I also saw the buildings and roads of Shanghai. We arrived at the restaurant and had our first meal in Shanghai! They served many dishes and it was tasty. After we ate, we finally went to our hotel to rest. 

From this trip, I hope to experience how lessons are being held in schools in China and learn more about China's history, culture, society, people's daily lifestyles, etc.

Day 2

Today, we went to 城隍庙, 上海书城, 南京路, the Bund and French concession, and went around the 陆家嘴金融区. Firstly, we went to 城隍庙. We went around the temple and there were many tourists and shops. We got free time to shop around and I bought some things for my family. It was interesting to bargain for the prices of the things selling in the small shops. Next, we went to the Bund and French concession. From the Bund, we could see many well known buildings in a Shanghai, including the 上海东方明珠塔, and the 'bottle opener' building, which has a opening that makes it resemble a bottle opener. With the picturesque view, we took many photos. After some free time at the Bund, we went to the 上海书城. The 上海书城 is 7 storeys high, and sells a wide range of books and music. We had some free time in there, where we could look around and buy books. Lastly, we went to 南京路, and had some free time to shop around. The shops on 南京路 are modern and mostly are shops of famous brands. They things that they sell are more expensive so we could not really buy many things. After having dinner, we went back to the hotel to discuss and rest.

Today, I spotted many Starbucks shops on the streets. At 城隍庙, there were even 2 Starbucks shops which were very close to each other. I wonder why are there many of them along the streets. I think it is because the cost of living is getting higher, and more people can afford things that are more expensive than normal. However, I wonder who the consumers mainly are. 

Day 3

Today is our first visit to the partner school, 上海市南洋中学. However, due to some students being late and heavy traffic on the road, we were late to reach the school on time. Although we were late, the teachers and principal were very welcoming and nice to us. We were introduced to our buddies and were given time to interact with them. However, as they have to go back to their classes, they only came for a short while. The teacher in charge, Mr Lu, showed us a few videos to show us more about China, and we were also challenged to build the tallest tower which can hold a ping pong ball in top, using only a piece of A4 sized paper and scissors. Many of us had trouble trying to build the tallest tower. At the end of the session, the physics teacher showed us some ideas to build it, many of which none of us thought of. It was fascinating and we had fun learning. After the lesson, we were supposed to learn how to make 香包, but due to many students around in the room, our group's buddy decided to take us on a tour around the school. She showed us the classrooms and places around the school, and told us that studying is very difficult and stressful in China. They had lessons even at night, and they often had to study late into the night. After leaving the school, we went to 海底捞 which was famous for their service, for lunch. At 海底捞, the waiters and waitresses were friendly and nice. When I came out of the toilet to wash my hands, a waiter offered me soap. When I finished washing my hands, he even offered me a towel to wipe my hands. I felt that their service was good and the food is nice. After the lunch, we went to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. It show us how Shanghai has developed over the years, and there was a large area where they displayed a model of Shanghai. I was able to see how Shanghai was like in the past and how it is now, from the exhibitions. Afterwards, we went for a quick walk along 文庙街, where we were not allowed to walk around on our own as it is dangerous. People living along 文庙街 were quite poor and the houses were rundown. An old uncle on the street told us 文庙街 was already like this in the past, and there was nothing to see. After dinner, we went back to our hotel for discussion. 

Today, we were late for about 30 minutes for school, and we could have left a bad impression for the teachers and students in 上海南洋中学. We were reflective and promised to board the bus to leave for the school on time the next day.

Day 4

Today was our last day in 上海南洋中学. Everybody tried our best to be on time to gather and board the bus as we did not want to be late like yesterday, and luckily, we were not late. On the way to the school, we practiced '立化情', as we were going to perform it for our buddies later on. We went to the school and saw how the students gathered in the parade square for morning exercise. They were running in an orderly manner to their respective places. They started doing the morning exercises and after our teachers' encouragement, all of us went to join them. I was quite embarrassed but I still had fun following their exercises. After that, we performed '立化情' for our buddies. I think we did okay. My group attended an English lesson, and got to see how lessons were conducted in the school. Shortly after, we had to say goodbye to our buddies, and sadly, my group's buddy was not around. However, we managed to ask another buddy to help us pass our presents to her. After that, Mr Lu brought us to the Oriental DreamWorks, where we saw how the workers drew the characters of the animations. It was really a once in a lifetime opportunity to tour around some parts of the company. It was fascinating and I learn more about how animations are created. After lunch, we went to 复旦大学, where a senior of RV gave us a tour around the campus. The seniors also shared how life in 复旦大学 was, and answered our enquiries. We also sang '立化情' for the seniors and I was really grateful towards them as they had used their time for studying just to let us know more about the University. 

Day 5

Today, we travelled for about 3 hours from Shanghai to Hangzhou. After reaching Hangzhou, we had lunch and went to the 浙江大学 国际设计研究院. Over there, we were given a talk on the design and innovation course there. After the talk, we rode on the bus around the campus. The University was huge and the buildings there are very modern and there were many facilities, in contrast to Fudan University, where the buildings are old and the facilities are not as many. However, Fudan University is overall a better University than Zhejiang University. After leaving the 浙江大学 国际设计研究院, we headed to 清河坊, where we were given free time to shop around. I bought many things for my family at 清河坊. But sadly, after dinner, 黄导游 had to leave us and another tour guide came to take us. I will surely miss 黄导游 as he was very caring and approachable. 

Day 6

Today, we went to 西湖, 雷峰塔, saw 断桥, visited 岳飞庙 and watched an acrobatics show called '西湖之夜'. We visited 岳飞庙 in the morning. At 岳飞庙, the guide told us about 岳飞, who was murdered by evil people. In the temple, there were four statues kneeling on the floor before 岳飞 and his son's tombs. People even used to spit on the statues, until it was forbidden due to the temple becoming a tourist attraction. This shows how much the people hated the murderers. Through this visit, I learnt more about YueFei's story. Next, we went to 西湖, where we went on a boat on the river. On the boat, we could see the 断桥. The bridge was actually not broken, but the name came from a family with the surname '断' living near it. After boat ride, we went to 雷峰塔. My friends and I climbed to the top floor first before coming down each level. The view on the top floor was magnificent as we could see the whole 西湖. It was such a good view that everybody took lots of photos. Lastly, at night we got to watch an acrobatics show called '西湖之夜'. The show was very interesting with exciting acrobatics performances. I felt that the most exciting part was when 4 bikers rode into a large spherical cage where they circled without falling and crashing into each other. It was very dangerous as if one biker made a mistake, all 4 of them can crash into each other and get badly hurt. I really enjoyed the show very much. 

Day 7

Sadly, today is the last day of our OELP trip. We rode the bus back to Shanghai after having breakfast in the hotel. On the way to Shanghai, we stopped by 七宝古镇, which is an ancient town. We were not allowed to walk around by ourselves as it was very crowded and we could get lost easily. Thus, the tour guide guided us around the town. Next, we went to 田子坊. I saw that 田子坊 had many art galleries and the things there are quite expensive so there were very little things which were suitable for us. However, I thought 田子坊 was special as it had features of the traditional Shanghainese architectural style 石库门, it was nice and interesting. After some free time at 田子坊, we had to leave for the airport. We thanked the tour guide and the bus driver gratefully and went into the airport. We had our last group photo taken with the banner and checked in our luggages. After a short debrief from the teachers, we boarded the plane and departed for Singapore. I was sad to leave Shanghai as it had been a very fun and meaningful learning experience with my classmates and teachers. I had observed and learnt a lot more about China, and I am grateful for the enjoyable time I had spent with my teachers and classmates 

 

Oelp daily reflection - Lim Qian Hui

Day 1

With my luggage in hand and an overly-excited heart, I gathered with my fellow classmates to get ready for departure. Not too long after, we waved our goodbyes to our parents and proceeded to the departure hall where we boarded the plane at the gate. It was my first time boarding a plane without my parents with me, but with the accompaniment of my peers, I nearly forgot about it. After approximately five hours of flight, we landed in 上海浦东机场。At the airport, we met the tour guide that will guide us along during his trip. In the bus he mentioned that we should always carry our bags in the front due to safety reasons such as preventing things from being stolen from our bags. When I looked out of the bus, I see many sky scrapers and city lights, showing how developed Shanghai is. Soon, we arrived at the restaurant where we will be having our first meal. There was such a wide spread of food that our table could not finish it! Nevertheless, it was a scrumptious meal. After filling our stomachs, we finally get to our hotel to wash up and rest.

What I hope from this trip is to have more first hand experience in a foreign country and learn the culture and traditions of China. Also, we can learn life values such as independence and teamwork.

Day two

Today, we visited three different places, 城隍庙，上海书城 and 南京路。At our first stop, the tour guide explained the achievements and history of 城隍。I also learnt some rules on respect towards places of worship like not entering through the middle door but by the doors at the side instead. We then got free time to shop around 城隍庙街 where I bought some souvenirs for my family. There were many small shops which were a nice sight as they are very interesting and their prices can be bargained. I wonder how much they earn per day. Our next stop was 上海书城 where there are many different types and genres of books. There were books ranging from cook books to even chess playing strategies. All these books are very valuable as they contain a lot of information. Our last stop was to 南京路。in contrast to 城隍庙，it has many modern looking shops and there were many familiar brands or clothing lines. I noticed that although there were many modern shops, ontop of the shops there were many poor looking houses. I think that there are many residents that cannot afford better housing which make me thinking about how big the difference is between the rich and poor in china. When we were gathering back as a class, there was an old lady beggar who kept pestering us to give her money. I think that the elderly find it hard to find an income as they are unable to keep up with the fast developing city. 

Day 3

We woke up earlier today and put on our uniforms, as today is the first day we would be visiting 上海南洋中学。Due to some students being late and a heavy traffic jam, we arrived late. However, the principal and teachers were will very welcoming and hospitable to us. We were introduced to our buddies and were given a chance to interact with them. We did not have much time though as they had to get back to class. We were given a talk about the history of the school and China's development over the years by the teachers. We even had a "tallest-paper-tower" session. A physics teacher challenged us to use just an A4 sized paper to make the tallest tower that we could. Me and my partner, Jiayi tried our best to make our tower but unfortunately it was unable to stand and kept on toppling. He then thought us the secrets which I felt was simply ingenious. I learnt to think out the box. After that lesson, we were supposed to learn how to make 香包 with the students there. However, as the room was too crowded with students, our buddy offered to show us around the school. We were able to look into their classrooms and study environment. I realised that it was quite run down and their facilities are very old. But to my surprise, the students in the classrooms are very focused regardless of their environment which amazed me. For lunch, we headed to 海底捞。I have very high expectations of the restaurant due to how famous it is. The service was very good and the waiters and waitresses were very friendly. What I felt was the best was how when I was washing my hands, a waiter came to ask me if I needed and soap. After I finished washing my hands, he even proceeded to provide me with a towel. I enjoyed my meal there and felt that the service was great. After our meal, we took a quick walk through 文庙街。The houses there were very rundown and the people living there looked to be very poor. We then headed to the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. I was especially awed by the model of Shanghai in the exhibition hall as it is very detailed and nice. Took many pictures of it and of course, pictures with friends for memories! We were brought to the super market where we could buy things and also observe the things in it. We realised something very different from Singapore which is rice and sugar are not sold in fix amounts but people can scoop and choose how much they want to buy. Mr Gay said that this was to cater to different family's needs. However I was quite puzzled at the sugar, as rice can be washed but sugar can not. Isn't it very unhygienic?

Day 4

Today, we all woke up on time and prepared as fast as we could as we do not want the same situation as yesterday. Yesterday, we were told to practice and try to remember the 立化情 song and lyrics as we are supposed to sing it to our buddies in 上海南洋中学 today. While we were in the bus towards the school, the class sang the song in unison and I really liked it as I feel that the class was very bonded. Although we repeated the song many times until my throat started to get hoarse, I feel like singing it more. In the school, we witnessed the students doing their morning exercise. They were very orderly and ran in by class, queuing up neatly. They could memorize every single step even though there were many different ones! As we didn't know any of them, we were totally dumbfounded as we tried to join it. We tried our best though, and it was really fun. After the morning exercise it was time to sing 立化情 for them. "在立化我不孤单..." We sang our hearts out and although we might not have sang it very well, the buddies clapped and encouraged us. Sadly, we had to say our goodbyes soon after that. Some of us exchanged our emails and social media accounts, but sadly my group's buddy was not present. My group had to give our gifts to another buddy instead to pass it to her. We left the school for the company Oriental DreamWorks, where the school teacher brought us to. When we stepped out of the lift, I squealed as I saw the posters of the movies such as "How to train your dragon 2". We were then given a tour around the company which was an experience I never dreamed of. It was so cool and I was completely awestruck being able to witness the process of animation. After the tour, we were even able to listen to a talk about it. I felt really lucky and felt very thankful to the teacher for bringing us there. After lunch, it was time to visit our seniors and Fudan University. Fudan is one of the top universities in china, but their facilities are very rundown. It taught me that despite the poor learning environment, the students there are still able to focus on their studies. Our seniors and other Singaporean students also gave us many study tips and told us many stories about their experiences there, such as how every student there would have their bike stolen at least once. In that short amount of time, I felt like I learnt a lot and I would like to wish the seniors there goodluck in their studies. :)

Day 5

In the morning, we took a long bus ride to hangzhou where we will be spending the next two days in. When we reached, we had our lunch and headed to Zhejiang university, where we were given and talk about the design and innovation course there. In contrast to Fudan university, the facilities there are very new and modern. I figured it should be because it was quite new and also there was more space in Hangzhou than in Shanghai to have a much bigger campus. After the talk, we had a drive around the campus which was very big and spacious, they even had two stadiums! We thanked the senior that brought us around and headed to 清河坊 where we were allowed to shop for awhile. I bought a few things but while we were walking around, something caught our eyes. There was a man who was selling small animals in plastic pouches, such as salamanders, fishes and even tortoises. I heard about these being sold in China in Singapore and I feel that it is very cruel as these animals do not have food and would die if they were not released. I was shocked when a young couple even bought matching ones to hang on their bags together! Don't they feel that it is very cruel? Also, today we changed our tour guide and I will surely miss kuang导游 as he is very kind, funny and approachable.

Day 6

Today we went to 岳飞庙，西湖和雷峰塔 and went to watch 西湖之夜. At 岳飞庙, our guide explained to us 岳飞's contributions and achievements, as well as how he was killed and wrongly accused. The statues of the 4 men who caused it were kneeling in front of Yuefei's tomb. There was a sign which states no spitting and the tour guide told us the story on how the people hated them so much that they threw these four statues into the 西湖 and had to be hauled from the river. We then took a ferry around 西湖 where we took many scenic photographs. We were told to be very careful not to fall into the river as there was once a man who fell in but did not resurface due to the thick and sticky mud. On the boat we also learnt about the "broken bridge" and how it was not "broken" but was named that way as there was a family with the surname “断” living near it. We got to go up the 雷峰塔 and every story higher we got to, the more beautiful scenery we could see. There were also many signs around that we could read and learn about its history. Lastly, at night we got to watch the 西湖之夜 acrobatics show. It was stunning and exciting. The different chapters of the show showcased different stories and legends. There were also many dangerous and breath-taking stunts that they performed. The performance I enjoyed the most was the finale where the bikers on motorbikes are in a sphere shaped metal cage and they had to be in perfect timing in order to not crash into one another. They had up to four bikers in it and it was really scary and fun to watch. I really enjoyed the experience. 

Day 7(last day:( )

Today, after taking our breakfast, we were on a bus ride back to Shanghai as we were to take the plane back to Singapore in the evening. We went to 七宝老街 but we were unable to buy things as it was too crowded so we needed to stay together as a class. Next, we visited 田子坊 where we were given time to walk around the different alleys and shops. As it was the last place we would visit in this trip, I bought quite a few things. However, the things there are quite expensive and are mostly suited for adults. Sadly, we had to leave for the airport and said goodbye to our tour guide. We boarded the plane after a short debrief and we were on our way back to Singapore. I really enjoyed this trip as I got to learn many things about China that I would never have known such as the interesting stories about why things are this or that way and observe things first hand. I will never forget this trio and the memories made, such as how our class will say “大家吃” before we eat and bond more as a class. I am very thankful to our teachers, tour guides and of course my fellow classmates.

Research on Shanghai and Hangzhou :D

Shanghai:

    [source: www.facilities.ac.uk ]

1. Why is Shanghai the financial and commercial centre of China?

Shanghai's dramatic development comes from its diverse economic base. Major industry networks include: communications, electronics and the information industry, biomedicine, auto manufacturing, petroleum, sophisticated chemical and steel manufacturing, complete-set equipment manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, household electrical appliances, and tourism.

2. Why is Shanghai the largest developed city by population in China?

Firstly, Shanghai has a total area of 6,340.5 square kilometers (2,448 sq mi). This shows that it is a relatively large town, which can occupy more people. Secondly, it has an extensive network of rivers, canals, lakes and streams. Thus, it is suitable for fishery and supplies freshwater for the people. It also allows another form of transportation-- via water. These combines to create a perfect setting for a large population. On the other hand, migration to the area is increasing rapidly especially after it's Hukou system(on of its economic reforms), which will offer incentives to migrants who move to rural people in the cities, providing them the same benefits as local residents. 

3. How has Shanghai developed over the years?

For centuries a major administrative, shipping, and trading town, Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th century due to European recognition of its favorable port location and economic potential. The city was one of five opened to foreign trade following the British victory over China in the First Opium War while the subsequent 1842 Treaty of Nanking and 1844 Treaty of Whampoa allowed the establishment of the Shanghai International Settlement and the French Concession. The city then flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became the undisputed financial hub of the Asia Pacific in the 1930s. However, with the Communist Party takeover of the mainland in 1949, trade was reoriented to focus on socialist countries, and the city's global influence declined. In the 1990s, the economic reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping resulted in an intense re-development of the city, aiding the return of finance and foreign investment to the city

   Sky view of Shanghai

  [source: www.shutterstock.com]

Hangzhou:

   [source: http://en.wl-expo.com/hangzhou02.html]

4. What role does Hangzhou play in ancient China?

Hangzhou's role in ancient China was to act as capital of the Wuyue Kingdom from 907 to 978 during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period as well as other roles. It is also listed as one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of China.

5. How has Hangzhou developed over the years?

Started as "Yuhang" (simplified Chinese: 馀杭) in 220 BC during the Qin dynasty, "Hangzhou" in AD 589, the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom from 907 to 978 during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, Arab merchants' migration town during the Song Dynasty, then the new capital of the Southern Song dynasty in 1132 until the Mongol invasion of 1276 where it served as the seat of the imperial government, a center of trade and entertainment, and the nexus of the main branches of the civil service, where it was captured by Mongol armies of Kublai Khan in 1276.The city of Hangzhou was constantly under development since the ancient period. The city remained an important port until the middle of the Ming dynasty era, when its harbor slowly silted up. Then urbanization and modernization take place and we have our current Hangzhou.

    Westlake in Hangzhou

   [source: http://thegoldenscope.com/2014/04/26/a-gweilo-in-1980s-china-chapter-14/]