Cross-Strait study camp

By Weng Lingling  |   2009-2-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FORTY-THREE students from Taiwan joined school children from Shanghai to kick off a week-long study camp in the city yesterday.

The "Shanghai 2009" Cross-Strait Juvenile Tourism and Learning Camp brought together 86 elementary students - 43 from Taiwan and the same number of locals.

Over the next week, the youngsters will learn about traditional Chinese drama, painting and martial arts.

Taiwanese students will also get the chance to see major tourist attractions such as the Yuyuan Garden and the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, according to the Shanghai Taiwan Affairs Office, one of the camp's organizers.

Organizers said most of the Taiwanese children were from needy families.

"It is pretty precious chance for them to visit the mainland," said Hou Guanqun, the Taiwan delegation leader.

"It's been a dream for so long for Taiwanese people, especially our children, to set foot on the mainland. Now, we can make it come true."

The kids were excited, too.

"In my imagination, Shanghai is a city full of mystery and delicious food," said Chen Junlin, a sixth-grader from Taipei. "I believe we will learn a lot of things and have an unforgettable holiday here."

Sun Mingyue, another sixth-grader from Shanghai New Foundation Experimental School, told Shanghai Daily she was glad to make new friends and take part in this activity.