Phoenix Language Village is committed to improving international understanding of how Chinese and foreign students interact, attracting more international students to learn Chinese and immerse themselves in Chinese culture, and getting more people interested in traditional Chinese literature. To this end, Phoenix School held the launching ceremony of Huaxia Village and the 2024 Phoenix Concert’s special Erhu performance on the afternoon of May 10th.
The ceremony was attended by the following distinguished guests: Xu Mang, former Director of the Taiwan Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Yang Xueying, member of the Zhuhai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Fu Bo, Deputy Secretary General of the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE); Xu Jinghua, Senior Programme Director of the Membership Department of CEAIE; Chen Gaochao, Director and Editor-in-Chief of the Beijing Craft Art Publishing House; Kong Fanqing, Vice President of the City University of Macao; Chen Xi, Director of International Education Affairs at BNU Zhuhai (BNU Zhuhai) and Dean of Phoenix School; Qian Zhengrong, vice dean of Zhixing School of Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai; Yao Jianbin, Director of the Department of Chinese, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, BNU Zhuhai; Zhang Weijia, Professor of the School of Chinese Language and Literature of Beijing Normal University and Director of the Research Base of the Beijing Language Commission - Beijing Language and Culture Construction Research Centre; Zheng Nanyang, Vice Director of the Party Committee's Publicity Office of BNU Zhuhai; Guo Kanjun and Qiu Yu, Director and Deputy Director of the International Office of BNU Zhuhai; and Liu Hao, Assistant to the Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences of BNU Zhuhai. In addition to the aforementioned attendees, teachers from various functional departments of BNU Zhuhai and international students of Phoenix School were also present at the launching ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Mr. He Jiangkun, Deputy Dean of Phoenix School.
Mr. Zhang Weijia extended warm congratulations on the launching of Huaxia Village. He described the intimacy brought by Huaxia Village from many perspectives, such as the identity and pride of Chinese culture, the meaning of “Huaxia Village” and the immersive Chinese culture experience. Huaxia Village provides a platform for teachers and students to experience the contact, exchange and interface[1] between Chinese and foreign cultures, which plays an important role in further promoting cultural exchanges. He expects Huaxia Village to become a bridge connecting Chinese and foreign students in the future and contribute to promoting the spread of Chinese culture.
Mr. Chen Gaochao delivered a speech in which he lauded the significant role that Phoenix School has played in the dissemination of multiculturalism since its establishment. He also expressed his anticipation for the Huaxia Village to reach a higher level, where students will have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding, engage in meaningful exchange and perpetuate the exceptional Chinese culture.
Mr. Xu Mang said that Huaxia Village serves a central role as a gathering point for individuals with a strong interest in Chinese culture. It will play a crucial part in the dissemination and promotion of Chinese culture. He expressed his interest in further collaboration with Phoenix School in the future, particularly in cultural exchange initiatives.
Prof. Chen Xi stated that Phoenix School is dedicated to fostering an understanding and appreciation of China among its international student body. The establishment of Huaxia Village coincides with the International Chinese Language Day, which has the mission of spreading traditional Chinese culture and promoting Chinese language to international students. As a second classroom training unit for international students, Phoenix School has already offered traditional Chinese culture courses such as poetry and calligraphy, poetry recitation and Guqin for international students. Following the establishment of Huaxia Village, the school has been developed into a comprehensive platform covering Chinese language learning, Chinese culture, Chinese national conditions, curriculum training, examination services, Chinese teacher development and other services. It integrates a variety of resource tools, enriching the second classroom of international students, promoting the exchange and mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign civilizations and helping BNU Zhuhai to cultivate globally competent talents. She expressed her hope that, with the combined efforts of all parties, Huaxia Village would develop in a healthy manner and contribute to the dissemination of excellent Chinese culture.
International Students of Phoenix School Performed Folk Music
To mark the opening of Huaxia Village, the international students of Phoenix School put on a show for the guests, teachers and students in attendance. They performed two traditional Chinese folk songs, “General's Order” and “A Laugh at the Sea,” with great enthusiasm and a real sense of enjoyment. It was clear that they are passionate about Chinese culture and have a unique understanding of it.
Erhu performance by Shao Lin, tutor of the Department of Music of The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The launch ceremony also invited Shao Lin, who teaches music at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, to perform a special Erhu piece at the Phoenix Concert. Contemporary Erhu music comes in all shapes and forms, from beautiful lyrical pieces like the “Butterfly Lovers” to passionate, joyous pieces like “Horse Racing.” It can also be performed in a Peking Opera style, such as “Farewell My Concubine,” and it even has its own unique style with pieces like “Birds in the Sky Mountain.” Shao Lin showed the beauty of Chinese culture's rhyme, artistic beauty and the enterprising spirit of exploring the future with great skill, using the bow string of the erhu.
Furthermore, an embroidery art exhibition by Zhou Xueqing, a master of arts and crafts in Guangdong Province and representative inheritor of the Guangdong Embroidery intangible cultural heritage project, was set up on site in Phoenix Language Village to showcase the excellence of Chinese handicrafts. The teachers and students were highly impressed by Ms[2] . Zhou’s embroidery artworks, which they found both beautiful and thought-provoking. They were particularly intrigued by her integration of traditional Chinese embroidery craft with Western art. The launching ceremony of the Huaxia Village and the 2024 Phoenix Concert’s special Erhu performance was a big success.
Since its establishment, Phoenix School has upheld the tradition of BNU, promoted cultural exchange, cultivated talents and promoted international education. The launch of the Huaxia Village at the Phoenix Language Village is intended to build a Chinese cultural village with Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese atmosphere. The construction of the Huaxia Village will be combined with the cultivation of talents for international students at Phoenix School, with the objective of enhancing international students' understanding of Chinese language and culture.
The construction of the Huaxia Village will build a broader cooperation platform and promote diversified and high-quality development of language and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. It will also provide a second classroom for international students and contribute to the cultivation of globally competent talents at BNU Zhuhai.
Translator: Wang Lihong
Proofreading: Martin Wittenberg
