Day 12 (Last day of our trip)

We have finally come to the end of 2008 Beijing Twinning Programme. Our trip has finally come to an end. We woke up around 4am and started to get ready for our journey back to Singapore. Here are the final few photographs taken at the airport:


A group photo with the Principal Mr Liu


Photo with MrLiu and Mr Sun

A photo with our tour guide, Amy. She was our tour guide last year too.

This will be the last update for our trip. I believe that this will be a lasting beautiful memory for all of us who have taken part in this year trip. Till we meet again, next year in Beijing.

Day 11

Today our students attended their last lesson in Beijing 109 Middle School and attended the farewell party for them. It was an emotional moment for everyone. At the party, our students presented 2 songs " The Start of Something New", "Peng You" and also a short piece of music "Over the rainbow". The Beijing students in return perform for us too. Here are the pictures:


Lunch before going for Farewell party

Waiting for the party to start.

Mr Christopher Tan giving the farewell speech.


Mrs Ng presenting a token of appreciation to the Principal, Mr Liu.



Mr Liu's speech for the party


Presenting Certificate of Participation to our students.



The Start of Something New.


Peng You (friends)



Over the Rainbow

Talented Violinst from Beijing 109 Middle School


Talent player of Gu Zheng. She played very smoothing pieces of music for us.


Song presentation by students who have visited Singapore last year.

A piece to symbolise our friendship done by their Art student.

A picture with Ms Wang who took good care of the staff and students throughout our stay in Beijing 109 Middle School. We are very grateful to her.

Farewell dinner at a restaurant next to the school

Finally we are coming to the end of our trip. Tomorrow morning at about 5.30am, we will be leaving our hotel for the airport. We will be leaving Beijing and heading back home.

Day 10

Today we learnt about Chinese Calligraphy in the school. It was a very informative and interesting lessons for all of us. After that, we went to Beijing Town Planning Exhibition. We got to see how Beijing transformed from a shabby town to a modern one that we see today. Later on, we went to Ya Xiu and Yue Xiu shopping center. Here are some pictures:


Our calligraphy teacher.

Our lunch..

Beijing Town Planning Exhibition

Dinner..yummy yummy..

Tomorrow is our last day visiting Beijing 109 Middle School for lesson. We will be attending a farewell party.

Day 9

Today we visited Yi He Yuan and the Pearl Factory. We had a long walk in the long corridor and took beautiful pictures of the Kun Min Lake. Here are the pictures:


A teacher from Beijing 109 Middle School teaching us Martial Art.

Students following the teachers.


Lunch time


Photo at the Yi He Yuan



Photo along the long corridor

Photo taking time.

Another group photo

Stone boat.

Pearl factory

Dinner time...

Tomorrow we are going to China URA building and our final shopping trip.

Day 8

Today is a rest and relax day. Students were given time to rest and reflect. In the afternoon, our students went for home visit. They were warmly welcomed by the Beijing 109 Middle School students and their parents. Here are some of the photo taken at the home visit:

Tomorrow we will be visiting the new Summer Palace Yi He Yuan.

Day 7

Today we conquered the Great Wall! All of us managed to climb up the steep flights of stairs and reach the first point in the Great Wall. After which, we went to shop at Xiu Shui Jie. Sadly, we do not have any shopping photos as we are too busy shopping...here are the photos:


Visit to the Jade Factory to learn how to differentiate between real and fake jade.




Many of us bought a jade seal

Group photo at The Great Wall at the Ba Da Ling Shui Guan


We are high up at the Great Wall! Here is a picture for 3EA!


Climbing down is very dangerous as the steps are steep. But, everyone managed to overcome their fear and bravely climbed down safely. We believe that what cannot destroy us make us stronger.


A visit to the Chinese Herbal Medicine Factory


Dinner for the day.


The gentle side of Titus :)


Another gentle side of Afri.

Both guys were very spotting to pose a picture for the blog. Thanks to both brave boys for the photos.

Tomorrow is a free and easy day. We will rest for most of the day and the students will be visiting Beijing 109 Middle School's students home. It will be a great learning experience for all of them.

Day 6

We are half way through our Twinning Programme! Everyone of us are adapting to the environment well. Real summer has finally arrived and it is really timely to visit the old summer palace to get a feel how the royal family felt when they shifted to the summer palace during summer. Here are the pictures for the day:


Lunch time!


The "Bird Nest" stadium where the opening ceremony for Olympic Games 2008 will take place.

Old Summer Palace (Yuan Ming Yuan). This palace was burnt down by the foreign invaders. We are now looking at the ruins.




Qinghua or Tsing Hua University. The biggest University in Beijing.

A famous tourist spot at the Beijing University. Another famous university in Beijing, China.

Dinner....feasting happily again...

Tomorrow, we will be conquering 2 things. The Great Wall of China and also.....Shopping!!!