Goldsmiths Confucius Institute for Dance and Performance oversaw a 14-day summer camp to China in collaboration with Beijing Dancing Academy and Jiangsu University this July. The excursion formed part of the department’s annual programme of study abroad events that supports students of all disciplines in applying for funded placements to study in China.
This year, 11 students from nine different countries were successfully awarded scholarships to participate in the summer camp. The group was made up of Goldsmiths undergraduate students, short course students (Mandarin and martial arts short courses) and members of the local and wider community.
After an 11-hour long-distance flight, the group touched down in Beijing and stepped straight onto the high-speed train towards Jiangsu province, covering another impressive 819 miles in just 4.5 hours.
Participants split their time between the four cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Zhenjiang and Suzhou in China and had the once in a lifetime opportunity to delve deeper into some intriguing aspects of traditional Chinese culture through a series of cultural activities, excursions and tours.
The students were able to try their hands at Chinese language, Chinese painting, Tai Chi, Peking Opera, Chinese classical, ethnic and folk dance and Chinese calligraphy through cultural classes offered by the host universities.
They also had the rare opportunity to take part in bookbinding and art printing workshops hosted by the Chinese National Museum of Classic Books in Beijing and experience first-hand a Red Theatre Kungfu performance.
A night tour of Xijin ferry, a walk down winding old streets along the Yangtze river, a visit to Shanghai’s impressive Bund and Nanjing Road as well as glimpses of Yuyuan garden, Houhai lake, the Forbidden City and the Ming Dynasty Tombs before stopping off at the Great Wall of China made the trip a memorable and eye-opening experience.
The summer camp to China enabled the students to immerse themselves in the cultural heritage, evolution and development of China by experiencing the delights of local Chinese food, architecture, theatre and art.
For more information on next year’s China Summer Camp, visit the Goldsmiths Confucius Institute Scholarship page.
