“What is Beijing?”

“Beijing is a historical city with 3000 years of history, civilization has existed here since the Western Zhou Dynasty.”

“Beijing is my home.” ......

On July 30, the “Convoy Plan” - “Reading City” public welfare program has been jointly launched by the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund and the Capital Museum Beijing. The program invited Chinese history experts and scholars of traditional culture as lecturers to explain the history and culture of Beijing city to middle school and college students who have studied or planned to study abroad, in order to let the students know the history of the capital, learn the traditional culture, and understand the world.

The “Convoy Plan” was jointly launched by the China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, focusing on culture, life and key needs in studying abroad, conducting security service, culture service, assistance service, and personnel service.

From the middle of July to early August, the first 50 students will complete the “Reading City” series of courses created by the Capital Museum, including the Charming Central Axis, Origami Hanfu, Traditional Wooden Works, Site Explorations, etc, so as to understand the capital and Chinese history.

“Cultural Ambassadors” share learning experience

Mr. Zhu Zuxi, an 80 year-old teacher, was one of the experts in this program. He was still shocked by the city when he first arrived at Beijing. “Beijing is like a big book, it needs to be read carefully” he said, “As Mr. Hou Renzhi said, ‘to know it more, to love it deeper’, it can be used on people, city, even country; the more you know it, the deeper you love it”.

Jiang Taihang, a student from Xicheng Foreign Language School in Beijing, has just finished the college entrance examination this year and planned to enter the University of International Business and Economics. After college, he wanted to study abroad for graduate school. He was interested in the humanities and arts, and has been hoping to learn more about traditional Chinese culture. Through this activity, he gained a new understanding of Beijing. “The central axis of Beijing contains the history of the whole city, which has its own aesthetic, historical and cultural value”, “My understanding of Chinese traditional culture has also subtly affect my cognition. For example, when I go to study abroad, I will also use the perspective of central axis to examine the local urban planning and pattern, whici is the brand left by traditional culture”.

Zhu Xisheng (second from left), General Secretary of China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, Han Zhanming (second from right), Director of Capital Museum, and Zhao Xiaofan (first from left), General Manager of Citic Prudential Life, discussed the significance of the “Convoy Plan”

Zhu Xisheng, General Secretary of China Children and Teenagers’ Fund, indicated that culture is one of the core elements in measuring the overall national strength of a nation and a country. The competition of talents is also competition of culture. The Chinese nation has created a long and splendid history and culture, and has formed socialist core values at present. Inheriting and carrying forward such excellent culture is a reflection of cultural confidence. This event aiming to spread the Chinese culture, arouse the patriotic enthusiasm of students overseas, and enhance national pride and confidence. No matter where they are in the future, they will never lose themselves in the ever-changing and complicated world.

Zhao Xiaofan, the General Manager of Citic Prudential Life, said that as the first sino-foreign joint venture life insurance company in China, Citic Prudential Life actively assumes corporate social responsibilities. In addition to donating 10 million yuan to the Convoy Plan, they also made use of their superior resources to provide free aviation accident insurance, global SOS emergency rescue service and online psychological counseling for students.

Han Zhanming, Director of the Capital Museum, and Yang Dandan, Director of the Ministry of Education of Capital Museum, introduced the cooperation form of the Convoy Plan and the first “Reading City” program. As an important cultural publicity base of the capital education, the most important thing for the Capital Museum to cooperate with the Convoy Plan is to inject cultural elements into the students who will study abroad and provide cultural services so that the children can be trained and grow during the experience of the museum. Air China will offer preferential baggage allowance for overseas students in the Convoy Plan, offering warm care to those who are about to leave home, said the representative of Air China.

At the launching ceremony, 50 students in the “Reading City” program participated in the teacher worship ceremony. In the future, under the guidance of the “Fang Hua” team, they will be qualified lecturers of the museum.

The “Convoy Plan” - “Reading City” public welfare program will be held in other cities in the country in the future.