During the Grain Rain season, Beijing is adorned with flowers in the warm spring weather. On April 27, Generation Z teens from St. Columb’s College in Northern Ireland and Beijing 101 High School Huairou Campus took a scientific and cultural exchange tour themed “Discover Huairou.” They together climbed the ancient steps of the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall.
Amid the winding watchtowers, Chinese students introduced in fluent English the construction history, spiritual significance, and cultural connotations of the Great Wall. Captivated by what they heard and saw, students from Northern Ireland ran their hands over the weathered bricks and admired the distant, rolling Yanshan Mountains, exclaiming in admiration. Atop the Great Wall, they spontaneously performed the traditional tap dance. The lively dance steps against the grandeur of the ancient city walls weaved a fantastic dialogue across time, space, and cultures.
The BPAFFC and the Huairou District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality held a welcome ceremony for the delegation. Wu Bing, Vice President of BPAFFC, extended a warm welcome to the Gen Z delegation. He hoped that this visit would help the young people from Northern Ireland better understand China and Beijing and get to know Huairou District, a historic place where culture and technology meet, and eco-environmental protection and economic development go hand in hand. He also looked forward to institutionalized exchanges between middle school in Beijing and St. Columb’s College, so as to inject youthful vitality into non-governmental friendship between China and the UK.
Ma Fuwei, Deputy District Mayor of Huairou District, gave a vivid presentation of the ecological beauty, scientific and technological innovation capacity, and cultural appeal of Huairou District. He reviewed the long-standing exchanges between the district and the UK, and expressed the wish that students from Northern Ireland would forge friendships with their peers in Beijing and share what they have seen and learned with more British friends. He also welcomed them to visit Huairou Science City and jointly build a better future.
Mr. John Johnston, head of the St. Columb’s College delegation, briefed participants on the school’s history, educational philosophy, and key achievements. He hoped to strengthen exchanges with Chinese counterparts in policy formulation, educational practice, and other fields, so as to better help young people unleash their potential and achieve well-rounded development.
Facilitated and coordinated by BPAFFC, Beijing 101 High School Huairou Campus and St. Columb’s College signed a cooperation agreement to promote friendly exchanges, paving the way for future institutionalized collaboration.
After the welcome ceremony, students from the two countries engaged in a variety of cultural and scientific exchange activities. Teachers and students from Northern Ireland were deeply impressed by the integration of astronomical observation with the Eastern philosophy of “defining centrality,” students’ self-developed bamboo slip display devices and sophisticated intelligent robot designs, as well as the intangible cultural heritage charm of shadow puppetry animation Nezha Conquers the Dragon King and Jingdong drum performance. The clear tone of Irish tin whistle, the rhythmic tap dance steps, and the really intense toss juggling also offered opportunities for Chinese students to get to know their Northern Ireland peers. An original hand-painted T-shirt blending elements from both places, an impromptu friendly basketball match, and the delicious jiaozi made together were all precious witnesses for Gen Z of the two countries to deepen friendship and embrace the future together.
Extra Info
This marks the third time that the BPAFFC has received a youth delegation from Northern Ireland. By organizing environmental protection, science and technology, culture, and other exchange activities, the BPAFFC has built a bridge of friendship to help young people from Northern Ireland better understand Beijing and China, and cultivate the next generation as a vital force for enhancing friendship between China and the UK.
