Last Friday, the Primary School of Tsinghua International School (THIS) successfully held its annual "China Day" event. As a key subject practice activity of our Chinese learning, this year's event centered on the theme "China Stories," aiming to enhance students' understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture through lively and diverse activities and performances.
Performances
Opening Dance
To a cheerful melody, students from the Chinese Dance after-school club performed the Xinjiang dance "Weidi." Their energetic steps lit up the stage, officially commencing the splendid performances of China Day!
Grade 1-"China Stories Are Wonderful"
A river of colorful stories holds childhood delight; classic Chinese tales bloom with splendor. First graders presented a nursery rhyme recitation, "Chinese Stories Are Wonderful." Following the figure of the Monkey King to explore the charm of Chinese stories, their tender voices vividly recounted these marvelous tales, fully displaying their childlike innocence and love for traditional culture.
Grade 3-"Intangible Cultural Heritage of China"
China's intangible cultural heritage represents the spiritual lifeblood and cultural DNA of the Chinese nation. Unique in the spectrum of world civilizations, it vividly illustrates Eastern wisdom and the aesthetics of life. Third-grade students delivered group presentations, using their childlike perspectives to explain the captivating stories behind five examples of intangible heritage: kites, paper-cutting, shadow puppetry, the abacus, and Tai Chi. Their performances showcased the profound heritage and vibrant vitality of these cultural treasures.
Student Choir
Under the careful guidance of music teacher Ms. Rebecca, the THIS Primary School Choir, joined by student Ren Ziyan, performed the cultural heritage song "Dragon Script" ("Long Wen") with clear, bright voices and graceful, flowing dance movements. The performance allowed everyone to feel the charm of traditional culture through its melody, expressing the children's love and praise for the continuity of Chinese heritage.
Teachers' Dance-"Jasmine Flower"
Six teachers from the THIS staff dance troupe made a stunning appearance, performing the classical dance "Jasmine Flower" in elegant long dresses. They danced lightly like a breeze brushing past flower branches, using graceful body language to interpret Eastern charm, deeply imprinting the artistic conception of classical Chinese beauty into the hearts of the audience.
Grade 4-"Traveling with the Poets"
Fourth-grade students amazed the audience with an interactive theatrical performance blending past and present, "Traveling with the Poets." They chased clouds with Li Bai, sighed over nation and home with Du Fu, built the Su Causeway and savored Dongpo Pork with Su Shi, and even transformed into "little detectives observing life" under the guidance of Li Qingzhao.
Grade 2-"Ink Dance, Pure Heart"
The second graders' performance was uniquely creative, using their bodies to leap and turn, dancing out the strokes—horizontal, vertical, left-falling, right-falling—embodying the soul of Chinese characters. Fourth-grade student Liu Jiaxuan also took up a brush to write the four large characters for "Chinese Stories" ("中国故事"). The fragrance of ink filled the air, dazzling everyone present!
Grade 5-"Light of Stories"
Fifth-grade students traveled through time via a mysterious treasure box, vividly enacting the tale of "General and Premier Make Peace" from the Warring States period. They also portrayed the young Zhou Enlai's lofty aspiration "to study for the rise of China." The performance looked ahead to the future dreams of a new generation of youth while closely connecting historical heritage with contemporary responsibility.
This year's China Day also featured "Story Masters" from various grades, making surprise appearances between programs to share the Chinese stories they had carefully prepared.
G1 Story-"The Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bowstring"
First-grade Story Masters Erica Tian (Tian Zexi) and Ethan Zhang (Zhang Hannan) partnered seamlessly to vividly tell the story of "The Bird Startled by the Mere Twang of a Bowstring." They recreated the wise scene where the master archer Geng Lei frightened down a wounded wild goose merely by plucking his bowstring without an arrow.
G2 Story Masters-"The Proud Rooster"
Second-grade Story Masters Bryan Tang (Tang Yubo) and Joyce Xia (Xia Fangzhuo) collaborated, vividly portraying the comical transformation of the rooster from smug arrogance to being outwitted by a little cricket. Through their lively and fun performance, they conveyed the lesson for growth: "Pride goes before a fall, humility leads to progress."
G3 Story Masters-"The Man of Zheng Buying Shoes"
Third-grade Story Masters Alston Jin (Jin Yilin) and Evelyn Song (Song Ailin), through their superb acting, vividly narrated the classic fable "The Man of Zheng Buying Shoes." They portrayed the laughable image of the man who trusted only his measurements, not his own feet.
G4 Story Masters-"Kua Fu Chases the Sun"
Fourth-grade students Zining Wang (Wang Zining), Suri On (An Buning), and Annie Hu (Hu Xirui) shared the ancient myth "Kua Fu Chases the Sun," conveying the Chinese nation's spirit of courageous exploration and perseverance to everyone.
G5 Story Masters-"The Dragon's Nine Sons"
Fifth-grade students Matthew Zhao (Zhao Yucheng) and Amy Li (Li Xinshi) told the folk tale of the dragon's nine offspring, each born to different mythical creatures. This legend vividly embodies the inclusive concept in Chinese culture of "harmony in diversity."
Station Activities
Year of the Horse Plaster Painting
At the "Year of the Horse Plaster Painting" station, students transformed into little artists, intently painting bright colors onto small horse plaster models. From the flowing mane to the patterns on the saddle and bridle, every stroke of color was an expression of New Year's blessings.
Chinese Story Challenge
At the "Chinese Story Challenge" station, students engaged in fun quiz-style games, tackling various questions about Chinese stories.
Fun Ring Toss
At the "Fun Ring Toss" station, festive red cloth was neatly laid out with various prizes: practical stationery, fun mystery boxes, and soft, adorable Year of the Horse plush toys. Eager to try, students took turns stepping up to the challenge.
This Primary China Day event was not merely a cultural celebration; it served as a vivid reflection of THIS's educational philosophy of "blending East and West while being rooted in China." The school is consistently dedicated to building a solid foundation in Chinese culture for its students, fostering a deep identification with the Chinese language and culture within a global perspective.
The students' outstanding performances demonstrated not only their excellent proficiency in Chinese and profound understanding of cultural content but also revealed the essence of true East-West integration: the ability to tell China's stories on the global stage. May every student carry forward this cultural confidence, becoming future inheritors and ambassadors of Chinese culture, allowing the world to hear the brilliance and warmth of China's stories.
