CUHK opens door to Chinese culture for summer school students

What better way to get to know Chinese art and culture than to experience them firsthand? This July, with the generous support of the Qin Jia Yuan Foundation and coordination efforts of Lee Woo Sing College, over 500 CUHK International Summer School (ISS) students enjoyed a dynamic and interactive journey of Chinese art and culture through an array of captivating performances during the Chinese Art and Culture Month.

The event showcased traditional and contemporary performances as well as explored the ancient arts. They included an instrumental performance by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, dance performance by the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, Peking opera demonstration, movie appreciation, Chinese folk art workshop, Guzheng performance, Kunqu demonstration, Cantonese opera performance, Chinese ballad and Guangxi folk performance and a 3-day cultural exploration tour to Guangzhou.

Since its inception in 2004, ISS has devoted itself to the promotion of Chinese culture through academic studies and immersion activities. Over the past 13 years, ISS has accomplished a significant growth with annual student enrolment multiplying from a mere 19 to 650, enrolling a total of over 6,600 students over the years. Academic offerings have increased to some 20 courses in Business, Chinese language (Cantonese and Putonghua), Chinese Medicine, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Humanities, and Social Science, many drawing focus on China. An equally important component to the success of ISS is the cultural immersion programme which provides abundant opportunities for students to experience the local culture. The wide range of field trips and cultural immersion activities exploring local scenes allow students to gain a better understanding of Hong Kong and China on all fronts.