-- Four-week Study Tour in Jiangsu University

Project Leader：Professor Ren Xiaofei
Contact Person：Ms. Li Hongyan
Cooperation Country：Austria
Cooperation University：University of Graz
Student Number：20-30 each time
Time：All year round, but March to December is preferred

Introduction：

South of the river is the place to gather lotus,
Where among teeming leaves
Fish dart and play!
North and south,
East and west,
Between the lotus leaves they dart and play!
But where is the south of the river?

The river here is the Yangtze River and south of the river is the Jiangnan area, which refers to the southern part of Jiangsu Province and northern part of Zhejiang Province. Culture in Jiangnan area, which is completely different from that in northern China, is actually the spiritual home of ancient Chinese scholars. This is a place where the blossoming crimson flowers at the riverside look fierier than flames; where traditional literary forms flourish and thrive; where winding paths lead among flowering bushes to secluded spots. This is the place where alleys are laden with lilacs; where streams flow under small bridges; where fields and gardens are a huge ink-wash painting. This is a poetic and charming place.

This four-week study tour in Jiangnan area for oversea students is launched by Jiangsu University, located in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. With the strong cultural features of Jiangnan area in Zhenjiang and with a mature teaching pattern of “Thematic Chinese Teaching”, the project takes advantage of the success in oversea students’ Chinese teaching and cultural experience and develops better contents. Zhenjiang, with a history of over 2000 years, is located in the southern part of Jiangsu Province. Zhenjiang, with typical Jiangnan water features, three kingdoms culture and Confucianism and Taoism culture, has always enjoyed the reputation of “The first landscape in China”. Jiangsu University gives adequate support to the research of Chinese classics, folk cultures and intangible cultural heritages, and has qualified,  experienced Chinese teachers.

This four-week study tour in Jiangan area consists of five parts: Chinese learning, cultural practice, poem chanting, local area investigation, and home-stay. All these are intended to help the students to improve Chinese, to understand China, to experience a true Chinese culture, to know more about Chinese history, economy, society, and to feel the charm of Chinese culture, thus becoming bridges of different cultures.

Features：
1．Customer-made teaching content will help them improve effectively.
2．“Thematic teaching” guarantees full participation of students from course design, to classroom learning and presentation.
3．Local cultural features and discipline superiority of the university are made good use of.
4．Five components are closely connected and interlocked.
5．Learning achievements can be presented in the form of chanting, speech contest, photo exhibition, or program host.

Arrangement：

					Register in this weekend
Monday 9:00 Open ceremony 10:30 Placement test 14:30 Paper cutting	Tuesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 To visit Xijin Ferry, Zhenjiang Museum, and Pearl Buck Memorial Hall	Wednesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Chinese opera	Thursday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Lecture 1  Folk Cultures and architecture	Friday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 To visit Vinegar Museum	Weekend To visit Suzhou for two days
Monday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Shadow boxing 1	Tuesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Shadow boxing 2	Wednesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Dough modelling	Thursday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Lecture 2 Confucianism and Taoism culture	Friday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson Afternoon: To visit Maoshan Mountain	Weekend Saturday: To visit Maoshan Mountain Sunday: Free time
Monday  8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Calligraphy 1	Tuesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Calligraphy 2	Wednesday 8:30 To visit Jinshan Park, Jiaoshan Park, and Beigushan Park	Thursday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Lecture 3 Research on Pearl Buck	Friday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson	Weekend Homestay from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening
Monday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Chinese zither  (Guqin) learning	Tuesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Mooncakes making	Wednesday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Poem chanting 1	Thursday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Poem chanting 2	Friday 8:30-11:30 Chinese lesson 14:30 Close ceremony & Farewell Party	Weekend Departure

Attention：This arrangement may be slightly adjusted.