Our Trip to China

The Shanghai airport when we arrived. 

On the 28 of May 2014, a batch of students from Anglican High School, Class 2D, went on an immersion trip to China, visiting the cities Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai. When we first arrived at Shanghai, we had our own impressions of the city. The airport seemed to be very spacious, however, this may be from the lack of shops. The airport did not have proper lights, and so it looked very dull and gloomy. Since it was at night already, the city was lit up with the lights from its many buildings, making for a rather majestic scene. We were first made to board a coach, which then turned out to be the coach that we would take to move to our destinations throughout the trip. The roads were dimly lit, as the street lamps were rather inadequate in completing its job of lighting up the streets. There were many tightly packed city blocks, and as such long winding roads had to be constructed to facilitate transportation. We felt that our trip was going to be an exciting one, readying ourselves for the experience that was coming our way. 

The view of Shanghai while we were in the coach.

Over the span of the next 6 days, we visited many locations around china. These locations include the Shanghai Museum and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Shanghai Museum showcased the rich history of Shanghai while the Oriental Pearl TV Tower represents China’s rapid economic development and its transition into an important part of the global community.


The Shanghai Museum features many ancient Chinese works of bronze and ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, and artefacts of daily life from a time long past. We were amazed at the vastness and authenticity of the collection of said artefacts that the museum possessed, and were glad to be able to learn more of china’s rich history. 

Coins used when trading at the Silk Road between the Chinese and foreigners.

The magnificent view from the TV Tower.

While we were up on the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, the view was magnificent as we were 259 metres above the ground and the glass enabled us to see the whole city with a bird’s eye view. It was hazy that day, so we could only see the large standing buildings far from us. The wind from the sky was very cooling, with freezing waves of wind slapping our faces. We were all hungry for photographs as such opportunities for us to be that high in a tower were not frequent. 

A model of the Kunshan Loujiang Experimental School.

We were stunned by the attitude of the people we interacted with. The students at the Kunshan Loujiang Experimental School were very engaging. For example, our buddies accompanied us with enthusiasm in them, like when we did not understand what the teacher is talking about, they would try their best to translate it and help us to understand. The students would listen to the teacher and if a question were to be posed by the teacher, the students would fight for a chance to answer, volunteering often. They were also kind and patient as they would ask us if we understood and even guide us during the lessons. The tour guides were also very enthusiastic, especially the one from Suzhou where he would talk to us and try to know us better.

Shanghai's skyscrapers look extraordinary from The Bund.

Overall, I feel that China is a very beautiful place. The people are mostly happy and content with their jobs. China has undergone many transitions through its many dynasties to becoming a communist state, before finally becoming a state which is a communist one in its name but in reality is a capitalist driven economy, that is a rising world power. China’s beauty and global importance is definitely a huge contribution to the world’s society. The experience we had there is still etched in our minds, and will also be a significant part of our memories together as a class.

Done By: Thaddeus Koe (37) & Ryan D' Angelo Raymond (34)