Ten girls from Yuhui Primary School at Chicheng, a town in Zhangjiakou, in North China's Hebei Province, attended a three-day study tour in Beijing from May 24 to 26.

The study tour was jointly organized by the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) and B'in Music Cultural Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd. to expand the horizon of the girls, enrich their knowledge and help them enjoy a beautiful and memorable journey.

Statistics show that B'in Music Cultural Media (Beijing) has made donations of 25 million yuan (US $3.34 million) to the CCTF in the organization of public welfare activities since its establishment in 2007. 

The girls visited Tian'anmen Square, the National Center for the Performing Arts, Tsinghua University, the National Museum of China, the Temple of Heaven, the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan), Peking University Red Building, and the China Science and Technology Museum, in the capital.

History Can Be 'Seen' 

The visit to the Palace Museum allowed the girls to appreciate traditional Chinese architecture, arts and life, building a bridge connecting them with Chinese history and culture. Tour guides in the National Museum of China helped them figure out the time sequence, the cause and effect of historical events with vivid and detailed explanations.

Chu Dan, one of the girls, said that she became deeply interested in history after the visit to the National Museum of China. Another girl said that she felt proud of Chinese history and culture during the tour. 

During an interview, the girls said that The Destruction of Old Summer Palace, an article in their primary school textbook, was the only source of their knowledge of the former world-renowned imperial garden. 

They had a deep understanding that the destruction of the garden is an immeasurable loss in the cultural history of both China and the world.

Technology Can Be 'Touched'

The China Science and Technology Museum is always a popular tourist destination for children, with no exception to those girls. 

A robot playing the guzheng (a zither-like traditional Chinese stringed instrument) in the China Science and Technology Museum left a deep impression on the girls.

They were also deeply attracted by magic mirrors, precise gears, dinosaur skeletons, the models of China's Shenzhou Spacecraft and space lab, and other exhibited items, which further aroused their interest in and imagination for science and technology.

Music Concert Can Be Enlightening 

The study tour also brought the girls to the National Stadium, where they attended a music concert held by rock band Mayday on the night of May 26.

Like many adults in the audience, the girls showed intense love of music, became highly motivated by the music atmosphere at the stadium, and shared feelings with each other. "I enjoy listening to music," one girl said. "The stadium is illuminated by light, and I can feel a sense of freedom," another girl said.

Together with arts and aesthetic education, music had the special power to inspire people to discover and create beauty in their daily lives.

A Rich and Fulfilling Journey

The study tour has not only expanded the personal horizons of the girls but also created an opportunity for them to make their voices heard. 

One girl said that she would strive to be a doctor because both her mother and father are not in good health. Another girl said that she took a photo at the gate of Tsinghua University to encourage herself to be enrolled there in the future.

Meanwhile, the study tour left a deep impression on two accompanying teachers as well. "The study tour helps the children broaden their horizons and increase their knowledge. I believe that in the future, they will study harder and make continuous efforts to realize their dreams," Zhao Zhihong, vice-principal of the school, said. 

Tian Jinpeng, a teacher of the school, said, "I have witnessed many positive changes happening to the girls during the study tour. They have learned how to communicate with their peers, how to solve problems, and how to face challenges. They are gradually developing into little explorers who can think independently and work in teams."