Guangfulin is an archaeological site in Songjiang District that is over 5,000 years old, and visitors to the site can see various artifacts from the Zhou Dynasty. This spring, Grade 9 students from SUIS Qingpu made the trip to Guangfulin with an aim to integrate two subjects: Chinese and Art.
A Cultural VisitStudents walked through the ‘bone needle square’ looking for the use of bone needles; strolling throughout the cultural exhibition hall, they asked about the relationship between the tomb design and the social status of the tomb owner, travelled through time and space, and traced back to the origins of Shanghai. The students followed the task list, visiting each spot while recording historical and cultural knowledge, prepared for the writing of an essay after their return to the school.
An Architectural MemoryThe unique architectural style of Guangfulin is beautiful. The students photographed and drew the buildings of Guangfulin, and interpreted the beauty of the architecture with brushes.
A Literary JourneyCulture may appear to be ‘silent’, but it contains the echoes of ancient eras. During their studies, the students listened to the diligence and wisdom of their ancestors, looked back at the traces of history from ancient times to the present, and experienced a profound ancient civilization. During the entire day of the roots-seeking trip, the students learned a lot. Let us listen to their research experience together!
Harry Qianfrom Grade 9Guangfulin is a magical place. It is relatively small and does not occupy a large area like many other tourist attractions. However, it is big enough to hold thousands of years of history. Here we witnessed the gradual development of the living sites of our human ancestors over thousands of years as well as the gradual changes in Shanghai. There is a magical scenic spot in Guangfulin, called Bone Needle Square, where stands a huge sculpture with a hole above the sculpture, looking like a modern silver needle. Our ancestors used their ingenuity to invent useful items that solved the challenges of creating clothing for warmth. Of course, we can’t just admire the wisdom of the ancients. Soon, the development of the new era will rely on us!
Emily Wufrom Grade 9At Guangfulin, we witnessed the progress of civilization. The ancient residents used the fibers of animals and plants and turned them into threads to weave “Hu”- a name for Shanghai. They used animal bones to make bone needles, the longest of which could reach 18 centimeters. The exquisite house design allowed them to live and to raise livestock. It was so shocking! Today we can’t just be aware of the wisdom of the ancients – let us also work harder for the future!
Yuki Lifrom Grade 9Songjiang Guangfulin Cultural Heritage Park is known as “The roots of Shanghai, the source of Shanghai style” and a site housing the memories of Shanghai’s earliest “immigrant culture”, established by immigrants from Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi. After visiting the Guangfulin Cultural Exhibition Hall, I feel that I am much closer to our history; the experience also give me a better understanding of the place where I live.
