Teachers and students from Millburn Primary School in Northern Ireland, UK, visit China to experience the art of Qin Opera and explore cultural resonance

China News Service, Beijing, September 24 (Reporter Zhou Xin) A cultural exchange event with the theme of "Entering Chinese Civilization - Inheriting History and Creating a Future Together" hosted by World Knowledge Publishing House was held on the 23rd at Beijing Royal School. A visiting group of teachers and students from Millburn Primary School in Northern Ireland, UK, gathered on campus with Chinese teachers and students to experience the art of Qin Opera on the same stage and explore cultural resonance during the interaction with the opera.

At the event site, Qin Opera actors from Xi'an Yi Su Society performed the plays "Beautiful Flowers", "Changing Faces" and "A Collection of Qin Opera". In the interactive experience session, the actors explained in detail the history, facial makeup, costumes, props and artistic features of Qin Opera to Chinese and foreign teachers and students, and guided the students step by step in practicing basic opera postures such as stage steps, gestures, and appearances.

On September 23, a people-to-people exchange event with the theme of "Entering Chinese Civilization - Inheriting History and Creating a Future Together" was held in Beijing. A delegation of teachers and students from Millburn Primary School in Northern Ireland, UK, visited Beijing Royal School to learn and communicate face-to-face with Chinese teachers and students, and to understand Chinese culture up close. Photo by China News Service reporter Yi Haifei

After experiencing the "Handkerchief Kung Fu", 11-year-old British student Lia told a reporter from China News Service: "This is my first time to have an in-depth understanding of traditional Chinese opera culture. It is very novel and interesting."

"I like to learn traditional culture with my Chinese classmates. They are very friendly and we can always help each other," said Leah.

It was the first time for many British students to come into contact with Qin Opera, an ancient opera in northwest China. The singing and unique performance format of Qin Opera were a bit unfamiliar at first.

Heng Xiaojun, executive principal of Beijing Royal Campus, took the stage and used British Shakespeare plays and Chinese Qin opera to explain the "way of resonance." Heng Xiaojun said that although they are rooted in different civilizations and born in different regions, they have something in common in stage performances. This view attracted frequent nods from teachers and students at home and abroad.

On September 23, a people-to-people exchange event with the theme of "Entering Chinese Civilization - Inheriting History and Creating a Future Together" was held in Beijing. A delegation of teachers and students from Millburn Primary School in Northern Ireland, UK, visited Beijing Royal School to learn and communicate face-to-face with Chinese teachers and students, and to understand Chinese culture up close. Photo by China News Service reporter Yi Haifei

"Shakespeare's plays and Chinese operas both tell stories on the stage and convey the spirit through art. This is the common humanistic romance between the two countries." Sharon Lamont, principal of Millburn Primary School in Northern Ireland, UK, said that from art to educational cooperation, the two schools uphold similar concepts, and the commonalities between cultures outweigh the differences.

In Sharon’s view, learning about China from books and videos can only give you a glimpse of the culture. Going in person and experiencing it on the ground is the real mutual learning among civilizations. "The essence of education is to establish connections and build bridges. Only when children from different civilizations and countries help each other and learn from each other can we jointly create an inclusive and beautiful future," Sharon said. (over)