Kedron State High School students have traded textbooks for bullet trains, scaling the Great Wall of China and practising calligraphy in historic Nanjing as part of the 2025 China Study Tour — a cultural and educational journey aimed at strengthening their language skills, historical knowledge and global awareness.
A Cultural Classroom Across Three Cities
The study tour brought together students from Kedron State High School and several other Queensland schools on a multi-city educational journey through Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai.
The group arrived in Beijing after a 13-hour flight and immediately immersed themselves in China’s history with a climb on the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall and a visit to the bustling Qianmen shopping precinct. They also explored the Temple of Heaven and the China Science and Technology Museum before travelling by high-speed train to Nanjing.
In Nanjing, students attended a lecture at Nanjing Normal University focused on the “Chinaisation” of global brands like McDonald’s, exploring how Western companies adapt to local preferences and cultural expectations.
Their stay included traditional activities such as lion dancing, Tai Chi and Chinese calligraphy. They toured historical landmarks including the Zhonghua Gate Fortress and the Nanjing City Wall Museum, sampled local dishes like duck pancakes, and saw pandas at Hongshan Forest Zoo.
Building Bridges Through Language and Culture
The trip aligns with Kedron SHS’s broader focus on international learning and cultural exchange. The school regularly organises study tours and educational visits to expand students’ worldviews and strengthen their language skills.
During this program, students also visited a local high school in Nanjing, participating in collaborative classroom activities with Chinese students. A Mid-Autumn Festival community celebration — where local media interviewed some participants — offered further immersion into cultural traditions and daily life.
In August, the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane hosted Kedron students and encouraged them to deepen their Chinese language learning and serve as “ambassadors of friendship” between Australia and China. The trip complemented broader education initiatives in Queensland that support student exchanges and language programs designed to enhance cultural understanding.
A Memorable Finish in Shanghai
The tour concluded in Shanghai, where students explored the city’s markets before spending a day at Shanghai Disneyland. The experience, which included walking more than 23,000 steps in one day, was a memorable end to a journey that combined classroom learning with real-world experiences.
By the end of the trip, students had deepened their exposure to Mandarin, Chinese history and culture — experiences that extended their education beyond the classroom and helped them develop a broader global perspective.
Published 17-Oct-2025
