This early summer, SMCS students stepped beyond the classroom and embarked on a study tour to Hangzhou. Through landscapes, artifacts, and cultural experiences, they brought textbook knowledge to life and began a meaningful journey through history and civilization.
Tracing the Spirit of History:
Encountering Poetry and Patriotism at West Lake
At the Yue Fei Memorial Hall and Yue Fei's Tomb, surrounded by red walls and ancient cypress trees, students immersed themselves in the story of the great patriot whose spirit of loyalty has endured for centuries. They actively searched for clues within the memorial and engaged in thoughtful discussions:
Why has this spirit of loyalty continued to resonate across generations?
Was Yue Fei's unwavering devotion an admirable virtue, or an unavoidable historical tragedy?
Through multiple perspectives and open dialogue, the image of the national hero became more nuanced and meaningful.
Later, students walked along the shores of West Lake, embarking on an interdisciplinary exploration that connected history, literature, and geography.
Walking along the southern div of the Su Causeway between Yingbo Bridge and Suolan Bridge, students admired the iconic scenery of "misty willows and six bridges." At the same time, they explored how Su Shi, during his tenure as governor of Hangzhou, dredged West Lake and constructed the causeway, demonstrating the integration of literary ideals and practical water management.
Flower Harbor and Quyuan Garden
Beside the imperial stele and red carp ponds, students observed the harmony between classical gardens and the natural landscape of West Lake, while the scenery evoked the poetic beauty of lotus-filled waters.
Solitary Hill: A Gathering Place of Scholars
At Solitary Hill, students explored the cultural heart of West Lake, experiencing seal carving at Xiling Seal Society, reflecting on history at Zhongshan Park, and learning about the poet Lin Bu and his ideal of a simple, secluded life.
Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge
Walking along Bai Causeway, students reflected on Bai Juyi’s poetry while admiring the timeless scenery of Baochu Pagoda and Broken Bridge.
To walk these paths is to
walk through a living philosophical landscape.
Su Causeway, Solitary Hill, and Bai Causeway
are not merely geographical routes,
but the "humanistic eyes" of West Lake.
Students explored how generations of scholars projected their ideals onto nature and how literary philosophy helped shape the landscape itself.
Tracing Civilization:
Exploring "Ten Thousand Years of Zhejiang"
While the first day explored cultural spirit and historical character, the second day focused on the origins of civilization.
At the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, students journeyed through the exhibition Ten Thousand Years of Zhejiang, tracing the development of the region across millennia.
Guided by museum educators, students explored treasures such as the Liangzhu Jade Cong King and the Sword of the King of Yue, gaining insight into the beliefs, social order, and technological achievements of ancient Chinese civilization.
Through these cultural treasures, students explored the social, cultural, and spiritual foundations of Chinese civilization, making history more tangible and meaningful.
Learning Through Dialogue
After dinner, students from different grades joined workshops to share ideas, exchange perspectives, and deepen their understanding through discussion and collaboration.
Blossoming Pens:
Post-Study Tour Reflection
After the study tour, students transformed their observations and discussions into academic insights, putting classroom knowledge into practice.
Swipe left to view more
From initial thematic thinking to the research results presented to everyone, students' comprehensive thinking and expression skills quietly transformed.
True education extends beyond the classroom and continues through hands-on exploration. In this journey, history, literature, art, and geography come together to form a vivid network of knowledge.
Through walking, observing, and reflecting, students connected with poetry, civilization, and the world around them.
The mist of West Lake may fade, but the insights into culture, history, and personal growth will remain, becoming a lasting source of inspiration for their future academic and life journeys.
繁体
