China

From 2 to 6 June 2025, a group of 40 students and 5 teachers embarked on an enriching 5-day, 4-night Overseas Learning Journey to Shenzhen, China. The programme incorporated cultural immersion experiences alongside visits to technological companies and educational institution. It was thoughtfully designed to nurture students’ 21st Century Competencies (21CC), particularly Global Awareness, Civic Literacy, Critical and Inventive Thinking, and Social-Emotional Skills, through authentic, first-hand experiences beyond the classroom.

Exploring Lianhuashan Park & Shenzhen Civic Centre

Students explored Lianhuashan Park, a central mountain park with significant historical and cultural importance in Shenzhen. At the park, they learned about Deng Xiaoping's transformative vision for the city. Subsequently, they visited Shenzhen Civic Centre, where they discovered how this vision is being realised through intentional urban planning efforts to develop a vibrant and liveable city that supports both residents and economic growth.

Visit to Dapeng Ancient Fortress

The group also visited Dapeng Ancient Fortress to understand its historical role in defending against Japanese pirates and serving as a stronghold during the Opium Wars. Additionally, students experienced local culture firsthand at Dongmen Pedestrian Street, immersing themselves in the daily lives of Shenzhen residents.

Immersion & Cultural Activities at Longgang Middle School

At Longgang Middle School, students participated in lesson immersion and cultural exchange activities, where they bonded with their Chinese peers through shared classroom experiences They attended lessons for various subjects such as Mathematics, Arts & Craft, and Physical Education. Despite the language barrier, students displayed adaptive thinking by using translation tools such as Google Translate to navigate Chinese-medium instruction and showed collaborative learning by seeking assistance from their newly found friends to understand lesson content. The friendships formed during the exchange extended beyond the trip, fostering mutual respect and appreciation between both groups of students.

Industrial Visits to Tencent, DJI, and BGI Genomics

DJI video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZDYRl79WixC_QvDFNeLPcreEL-KJuqj8/view?usp=drive_link

The key highlight was the series of industrial visits to Tencent, DJI, and BGI Genomics. Students marvelled at the rapid pace of technological advancement these companies have achieved. For instance, they learned how genome mapping, once a 13-year process, can now be completed within days. Through engaging presentations and guided tours, students gained insights into the core values, culture, and work ethos that drive these companies toward excellence and innovation. These experiences broadened their understanding of global industry trends and inspired them to reflect on their future aspirations and career pathways.

Capturing Learning Experiences

Reflection video: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qEmjxIVQEhbGff7ZrB5y548bJb0ZFf7h?usp=sharing

Throughout the trip, the students gained a profound appreciation for Singapore and its place in a globalised world. These experiences inspired them to think about how they could contribute meaningfully to the nation’s continued progress. The students also strengthened their bonds of friendship on this trip and this collaborative spirit was reflected in their daily reflections, where they harnessed individual strengths to create two-minute video reflections that captured their key learning experiences.

The Shenzhen, China Internationalisation Trip 2025 truly embodied the school's vision of nurturing hearts of compassion, inventive minds, and resilient spirits ready to thrive in a global community, living out the spirit of going Beyond Frontiers.

KR's first overseas trip since 2020 saw 30 students explore Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou, deepening their engagement with Chinese language and culture whilst developing 21st century competencies.

Key Experiences

Sister School Exchange

Students participated in classroom lessons, stone art painting workshop, and a basketball friendly match at Shanghai No. 4 Middle School (our sister school since 2008).

Cultural Heritage

Visits included HuanXiu Villa 环秀山庄 (UNESCO Classical Garden), Suzhou embroidery workshop 苏绣工作坊, Hanshan Temple, Shanghai's Xintiandi, Tianzifang, The Bund 外滩, Oriental Pearl TV Tower 东方明珠电视塔, and The Shanghai Municipal History Museum 上海市历史博物馆.

Modern Innovation

Students experienced Hema Fresh 盒马鲜生 (Alibaba's new retail concept) and visited Suzhou Industrial Park 苏州工业园, observing technology integration and industrial development.

Student Reflections

"Observing the restored Shikumen houses and narrow alleys has sparked my interest in architectural heritage, and allowed me to reflect on the importance of cultural preservation." - Png Wen Yu

"When we joined the lesson with the other students, I quickly realised there would be challenges with language and communication style. This experience taught me that it's important to seek support rather than struggle alone, especially in unfamiliar situations." - Chin Zhi Teng

"I was deeply impressed by how Hema has integrated technology with traditional retail seamlessly. It's a hybrid of e-commerce, logistics, and customer experience management, offering convenience, personalisation, and efficiency." - Alythea Yeoh

This successful trip equipped our students with valuable global perspectives and cross-cultural skills.