Chengdu Trip 2018
In March 2018, a group of SIT and SBM students commenced on a 2 weeks journey to Chengdu, China for an Immersion programme. Mr Liaw from SIT and Mr Chan from SBM were staffs that involved in leading the students to accomplish the programme.
Introduction to the trip
This was a 13-days overseas immersion programme for NYP SIT and SBM students to Chengdu (成都， 四川), capital of the Sichuan province. This trip fulfils one GEneral Studies Module (GSM). Not only achieving the GSM, this trip helps to develop students' global orientation and mindset. Students will be able to appreciate the cultural heritage, gain in-sights into the business, social and economic development of China. Furthermore, they are also able to gain first-hand experience of the Chinese way of life and make friends with students from Chengdu Polytechnic. Staffs and students will get opportunities to visit Singapore Companies that have a presence in Chengdu, China.
Day 1 - Pre-departure/Arrival
Everyone gather and meet at Singapore Changi International Airport Terminal 2 at 5pm evening. NYP Staffs will help students to perform group check-in. This is the part where students and parents will start to bid farewell before entering the departure hall. Parents will also be able to speak to the teacher in-charge if they still have any doubts or enquiries. The journey begins from here where students take care of one another and creating new friendships.
It is easy to notice some parents who would be there to send off their kids and bid them farewell and a safe journey home. Truly, staffs who are going for this trip will have to carry their heavy responsibilities of taking care of students' well being while in Chengdu.
Upon arrival at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (双流国际机场), we head towards our bus where it brought us to HanYun Hotel (成都汉韵酒店), a Han Culture inspired luxury Hotel (Han Dynasty Theme Hotel), which is located next to Chengdu Polytechnic. The hotel, where we stayed, provides internship opportunities to their local students from the Polytechnic’s School of Tourism.
A glimpse of how the hotel look like:
Day 2 - Campus orientation, visit learning centres, Huayuan Campus and Chunxi Rd
In the morning, we went to Chengdu Polytechnic and met our 2 buddies. They brought us to their school canteen for breakfast. Based on our observation, local students use WeChat to scan the QR code for payment and rarely use cash to pay for purchasing food.
After breakfast, we walked around Chengdu Polytechnic. The Chengdu teacher brought us around for our campus orientation and to the different learning centres. We got to see the types of classroom and environment local students study in. Next, we tour the library and the teacher-in-charge told us some of the history of Chengdu. Then, we were given free and easy time and we had lunch with our buddies.
In the afternoon, we went to Huayuan Campus and attended a Tea Culture class. We learnt the traditions of tea and the reasons why people in Chengdu prefer tea over any other beverages. Moreover, we also get to know the different utensils used for tea, how to arrange tea in a traditional way and brew tea.
Day 3 - GSM lecture and chess culture
Early in the morning, we had a lecture on the history of Chengdu and the education system in China by two of the teachers in the school. Surprisingly, their educational system is similar to ours. In Chengdu Polytechnic, there are many different schools, just like Nanyang Polytechnic.
School of Chess Culture, the school that stood out for us because we would never thought that people could make a living out of chess and that chess can be studied so thoroughly, was offered as a full-time course in Chengdu Polytechnic. Students in this course learn the different techniques to execute in a game and are taught on how to create a chess game on websites that can be used for their future career. With this skill, they can spread the chess culture worldwide. We are also taught on how to play chess and are given plenty of time to try out and play. After playing chess, we realised it is a mind sports that requires a lot of practice and thinking. With just one wrong move, you may lose the game.
Day 4 - Company visits ans face-changing
We visited 2 companies in the morning. First, we went to NCS. At NCS, we learnt that NCS enables countries to move more quickly to meet their needs for quality IT services and provides a strong network partnership as well as comprehensive range of IT and communication engineering services, including outsourcing, application development systems integration and infrastructure management.
Second, we visited Huawei company. It provides network services and offers network security solutions and storage devices such as cloud. We get to look at machines that were used to control the system in and out. Huawei focuses on building telecommunication networks such as KBS, SBS and BBC and also provides operational and consulting services and equipment to enterprises inside and outside of China.
In the afternoon, some of us got the opportunity to experience face changing makeup and try out the costumes. In the evening, we watched the Chinese opera and face changing performance.
The performance was amazing and fantastic as we do not get a chance to watch such performance in Singapore.
Day 5 - Chengdu panda centre and Chinese calligraphy
In the morning, we went to the Chengdu Panda Centre, It is a place specially for pandas where they are being well taken care of and for breeding. There are several kinds of pandas. Not only the black and white pandas, but also the red ones. We were told by our tour guide that there are up to 100 pandas but usually we will only get to see around 20 to 30 pandas.
After visiting the panda centre, we attended a Chinese calligraphy lesson in the afternoon. Chinese calligraphy is a form of art that is commonly used in the olden days. We were taught on the correct way to hold a brush (use your ring finger, middle finger and thumb to hold the brush) and also the correct way to write Chinese words.
Day 6 - Sichuan food museum and Du Jiang Yan
We visited the Sichuan Cuisine Museum and learnt the history and stories of Sichuan cuisine. Furthermore, we get to understand how soy sauce and spices are made and try out how the soy sauce used in Sichuan cuisine taste like. Next, we went to buy some Sichuan specialty and eat Sichuan delicacy like mala noodle, mantou, spring roll and dumpling. The mala noodle taste wierd for us as it was powdery but the dumpling was super delicious!
After having lunch, we went to Du Jiang Yan, an ancient irrigation system originally constructed for irrigation and flood control. One statue that stood out for us was Zhu Ge Liang, whose hands and feet were gold in colour. It was believed by many that if you touch his hands and feet, you will become smarter. Then, we crossed the bridge which took us to the other side and we saw the irrigation system which was in a shape of a fish that separates the water.
Day 7 - GSM ICA test 1 and ICA 2 project preparation
Before the test, we were given time for revision and recap. The ICA test was based on the lecture that was given to us on day 2.
Day 8 - Wu Hou Ci + Jinli Street and Wide Narrow Alley
Wu Hou Shrine is a temple that was built to delicate Zhu Ge Liang, who was a renowned minister who was the personification of noble character and intelligence. We learnt about statues such as Liu Bei, Zhu Ge Liang and Zhang Fei, who contributed to the country by worshipping them.
Day 9 - Chengdu Planning Exhibition Hall
At about 9am in the morning, we went to the Chengdu Planning Exhibition Hall. It was just a walking distance from our hotel. It is a 4 storey exhibition centre with many information about Chengdu's urban planning with wonderful interactive displays of Chongqing's past and present.
Day 10 - Mt. Emei (峨眉山)
At 6.45am, we depart from our hotel to Mt. Emei. To go to Mt Emei city, we took a shuttle bus for about 2 hours. When we reached, we had lunch at one of the restaurants before climbing the mountain. The stairs at the mountain were steep and there were snow on the ground which made us harder to climb. We also saw monkeys and were told to keep a distance away from them as they were aggressive. After climbing for about 30 minutes, we took a gigantic cable car up the mountain. The cable car can withstand around 100 people. Next, we walked further up to reach the top of the mountain where we get to see Pu Xian Buddha. Over there, people pray or walk 10 rounds around it for well wishes and blessings. Not forgetting the Sherpas, for people who are lazy or have poorer strength, they can choose to use the Sherpas' service at around RMB 30-40 per km.
Day 11 - Tea plantation and tea appreciation
In the morning, we went to the tea plantation to pick up green tea leaves. Although picking tea is a tedious and tough job, we were satisfied and enjoyed the joy and fun of harvesting. Next, we dried the leaves using heating method, rolled and shaped the tea leaves. It is a traditional method of hand making tea.
After making tea, we attend a tea appreciation lesson. We were taught the proper ways to hold the tea pot, and the different names for the tea utensils. Then, we tasted the tea that we made and offered it to our friend in a traditional way. Next, we went to eat lunch.
Day 12 - Presentation Day
After 11 days of fun, we finally get to present and share what we have learnt and understand throughout this trip to our fellow friends, teachers and even to the teachers of Chengdu Polytechnic. Since it is the last day in Chengdu, some of us also took photos with our buddies for memories, saying our last farewell and goodbye. We have gained many knowledge about the rich history and culture of Chengdu, it has been a meaningful and fun adventure for everyone. Trying Chengdu's cuisines and climbing mountain for most of us the first time, is one journey that we will always remember.
 |
| Mr Liaw (left) and Mr Chan (right) |
Introduction to the trip
This was a 13-days overseas immersion programme for NYP SIT and SBM students to Chengdu (成都， 四川), capital of the Sichuan province. This trip fulfils one GEneral Studies Module (GSM). Not only achieving the GSM, this trip helps to develop students' global orientation and mindset. Students will be able to appreciate the cultural heritage, gain in-sights into the business, social and economic development of China. Furthermore, they are also able to gain first-hand experience of the Chinese way of life and make friends with students from Chengdu Polytechnic. Staffs and students will get opportunities to visit Singapore Companies that have a presence in Chengdu, China.
Day 1 - Pre-departure/Arrival
Everyone gather and meet at Singapore Changi International Airport Terminal 2 at 5pm evening. NYP Staffs will help students to perform group check-in. This is the part where students and parents will start to bid farewell before entering the departure hall. Parents will also be able to speak to the teacher in-charge if they still have any doubts or enquiries. The journey begins from here where students take care of one another and creating new friendships.
It is easy to notice some parents who would be there to send off their kids and bid them farewell and a safe journey home. Truly, staffs who are going for this trip will have to carry their heavy responsibilities of taking care of students' well being while in Chengdu.
 |
| Group photo before departure |
Upon arrival at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (双流国际机场), we head towards our bus where it brought us to HanYun Hotel (成都汉韵酒店), a Han Culture inspired luxury Hotel (Han Dynasty Theme Hotel), which is located next to Chengdu Polytechnic. The hotel, where we stayed, provides internship opportunities to their local students from the Polytechnic’s School of Tourism.
 |
| Entrance of the hotel |
 |
| Hotel lobby |
A glimpse of how the hotel look like:
Day 2 - Campus orientation, visit learning centres, Huayuan Campus and Chunxi Rd
In the morning, we went to Chengdu Polytechnic and met our 2 buddies. They brought us to their school canteen for breakfast. Based on our observation, local students use WeChat to scan the QR code for payment and rarely use cash to pay for purchasing food.
 |
| Meeting of buddies |
 |
| Breakfast |
After breakfast, we walked around Chengdu Polytechnic. The Chengdu teacher brought us around for our campus orientation and to the different learning centres. We got to see the types of classroom and environment local students study in. Next, we tour the library and the teacher-in-charge told us some of the history of Chengdu. Then, we were given free and easy time and we had lunch with our buddies.
 |
| Tour around the campus |
 |
| Lunch |
In the afternoon, we went to Huayuan Campus and attended a Tea Culture class. We learnt the traditions of tea and the reasons why people in Chengdu prefer tea over any other beverages. Moreover, we also get to know the different utensils used for tea, how to arrange tea in a traditional way and brew tea.
Day 3 - GSM lecture and chess culture
Early in the morning, we had a lecture on the history of Chengdu and the education system in China by two of the teachers in the school. Surprisingly, their educational system is similar to ours. In Chengdu Polytechnic, there are many different schools, just like Nanyang Polytechnic.
 |
| Listening to lecture |
School of Chess Culture, the school that stood out for us because we would never thought that people could make a living out of chess and that chess can be studied so thoroughly, was offered as a full-time course in Chengdu Polytechnic. Students in this course learn the different techniques to execute in a game and are taught on how to create a chess game on websites that can be used for their future career. With this skill, they can spread the chess culture worldwide. We are also taught on how to play chess and are given plenty of time to try out and play. After playing chess, we realised it is a mind sports that requires a lot of practice and thinking. With just one wrong move, you may lose the game.
Day 4 - Company visits ans face-changing
We visited 2 companies in the morning. First, we went to NCS. At NCS, we learnt that NCS enables countries to move more quickly to meet their needs for quality IT services and provides a strong network partnership as well as comprehensive range of IT and communication engineering services, including outsourcing, application development systems integration and infrastructure management.
 |
| NCS |
Second, we visited Huawei company. It provides network services and offers network security solutions and storage devices such as cloud. We get to look at machines that were used to control the system in and out. Huawei focuses on building telecommunication networks such as KBS, SBS and BBC and also provides operational and consulting services and equipment to enterprises inside and outside of China.
 |
| Huawei company |
In the afternoon, some of us got the opportunity to experience face changing makeup and try out the costumes. In the evening, we watched the Chinese opera and face changing performance.
The performance was amazing and fantastic as we do not get a chance to watch such performance in Singapore.
Day 5 - Chengdu panda centre and Chinese calligraphy
In the morning, we went to the Chengdu Panda Centre, It is a place specially for pandas where they are being well taken care of and for breeding. There are several kinds of pandas. Not only the black and white pandas, but also the red ones. We were told by our tour guide that there are up to 100 pandas but usually we will only get to see around 20 to 30 pandas.
 |
| Group photo at the entrance |
 |
| Black and white panda |
 |
| Red panda |
After visiting the panda centre, we attended a Chinese calligraphy lesson in the afternoon. Chinese calligraphy is a form of art that is commonly used in the olden days. We were taught on the correct way to hold a brush (use your ring finger, middle finger and thumb to hold the brush) and also the correct way to write Chinese words.
 |
| Learning how to hold the brush |
 |
| Student's work (left) vs teacher's work (right) |
Day 6 - Sichuan food museum and Du Jiang Yan
We visited the Sichuan Cuisine Museum and learnt the history and stories of Sichuan cuisine. Furthermore, we get to understand how soy sauce and spices are made and try out how the soy sauce used in Sichuan cuisine taste like. Next, we went to buy some Sichuan specialty and eat Sichuan delicacy like mala noodle, mantou, spring roll and dumpling. The mala noodle taste wierd for us as it was powdery but the dumpling was super delicious!
 |
| Trying out the soy sauce and spices |
 |
| Having Sichuan cuisine for lunch |
After having lunch, we went to Du Jiang Yan, an ancient irrigation system originally constructed for irrigation and flood control. One statue that stood out for us was Zhu Ge Liang, whose hands and feet were gold in colour. It was believed by many that if you touch his hands and feet, you will become smarter. Then, we crossed the bridge which took us to the other side and we saw the irrigation system which was in a shape of a fish that separates the water.
 |
| Ticket for entry |
 |
| Irrigation system - shape of a fish |
 |
| Wefie at the entrance |
Day 7 - GSM ICA test 1 and ICA 2 project preparation
Before the test, we were given time for revision and recap. The ICA test was based on the lecture that was given to us on day 2.
Day 8 - Wu Hou Ci + Jinli Street and Wide Narrow Alley
Wu Hou Shrine is a temple that was built to delicate Zhu Ge Liang, who was a renowned minister who was the personification of noble character and intelligence. We learnt about statues such as Liu Bei, Zhu Ge Liang and Zhang Fei, who contributed to the country by worshipping them.
 |
| Studying the map of the Wide and Narrow Alley |
Day 9 - Chengdu Planning Exhibition Hall
At about 9am in the morning, we went to the Chengdu Planning Exhibition Hall. It was just a walking distance from our hotel. It is a 4 storey exhibition centre with many information about Chengdu's urban planning with wonderful interactive displays of Chongqing's past and present.
 |
| Photo of the entire Chengdu |
Day 10 - Mt. Emei (峨眉山)
At 6.45am, we depart from our hotel to Mt. Emei. To go to Mt Emei city, we took a shuttle bus for about 2 hours. When we reached, we had lunch at one of the restaurants before climbing the mountain. The stairs at the mountain were steep and there were snow on the ground which made us harder to climb. We also saw monkeys and were told to keep a distance away from them as they were aggressive. After climbing for about 30 minutes, we took a gigantic cable car up the mountain. The cable car can withstand around 100 people. Next, we walked further up to reach the top of the mountain where we get to see Pu Xian Buddha. Over there, people pray or walk 10 rounds around it for well wishes and blessings. Not forgetting the Sherpas, for people who are lazy or have poorer strength, they can choose to use the Sherpas' service at around RMB 30-40 per km.
 |
| Photo with Pu Xian Buddha |
 |
| Cable car full of people |
 |
| Sherpas |
Day 11 - Tea plantation and tea appreciation
In the morning, we went to the tea plantation to pick up green tea leaves. Although picking tea is a tedious and tough job, we were satisfied and enjoyed the joy and fun of harvesting. Next, we dried the leaves using heating method, rolled and shaped the tea leaves. It is a traditional method of hand making tea.
 |
| Picking tea leaves |
 |
| Sense of satisfaction |
 |
| Hand making tea |
After making tea, we attend a tea appreciation lesson. We were taught the proper ways to hold the tea pot, and the different names for the tea utensils. Then, we tasted the tea that we made and offered it to our friend in a traditional way. Next, we went to eat lunch.
 |
| Tea appreciation lesson |
 |
| Lunch |
Day 12 - Presentation Day
After 11 days of fun, we finally get to present and share what we have learnt and understand throughout this trip to our fellow friends, teachers and even to the teachers of Chengdu Polytechnic. Since it is the last day in Chengdu, some of us also took photos with our buddies for memories, saying our last farewell and goodbye. We have gained many knowledge about the rich history and culture of Chengdu, it has been a meaningful and fun adventure for everyone. Trying Chengdu's cuisines and climbing mountain for most of us the first time, is one journey that we will always remember.
 |
| Presentation |
 |
| Last farewell photo with our buddies |
~THE END~
Blog contributed by Madeline (SIT) and Rachel (SIT)
Comments
Post a Comment