Brian's overall reflection

During the span of the one week that we went to china, we saw many, smelled many, tasted many and learnt many. We were exposed not only the history that made china what it is today, but also exposed to the culture in which the people lived with. we have also gained insights in China's education system as well as some of their mindsets, way of thinking. Apart from all our take backs from China, I have enjoyed myself greatly and I feel like I gotten fitter from all the walks and climbs.

During our first day there, we took the high speed rail to Hefei Anhui. To be honest, this was not the first time i took the high speed rail. i had took it once in Europe to get from one state to another. However, when i stepped into the carriage of the renowned high speed rail that made china unique, i was immediately dumbstruck, wonderstruck. Up till this point in time i was still doubting China's credibility, i did not want to believe that a less developed country like china could have things that very developed, more ethical, more advanced countries like Europe have. And even up to the point where the train moved i was still in disbelief categorising all that is happening to be a hallucination. On the other hand, I was still able to understand the need for such an invention. China is so big, so wide, that the only way to do inter-province business were with the use of the high speed rail. The current uses are to transport cargo and businessmen from one province to the other, exactly my point.

Without the high speed rail, people would take about 11 hours to reach beijing, and 6 hours to reach shanghai (all based on hefei) but with the induction of the high speed rail, the time has been greatly reduced. This would be beneficial to many, as they can now spend more time doing whatever they have to at their destination and not have to spend so much time on transport. The high speed rail could also be beneficial to the visitors. Just like our case, we could save more money if we took the high speed rail instead of a transfer flight. Hence, the high speed rail is definitely a great invention.

After our trip on the train, we went to iFlytek. At this juncture, i am literally overwhelmed. I was also aware that China was always out to copy others for their own benefit. However, my impression changed slightly. It might be true that they use the ideas of others to make their own, but they are not as square as you think. They incorporate the use of artificial intelligence into a phone like siri, but they also used it in the making of hands-free car operating systems. I was impressed. This trip has certainly changed my perspective of China's technology. Personally, i think China has made a breakthrough. a hands-free car operating system definitely has its benefits. Furthermore, China is not like Singapore, where a simple trip to the next neighbourhood takes 5 mins. In China it would take more than that, and by having this system they would be less likely to get into car accidents. (The chinese are busy people, and would have to make calls often) This is certainly a great invention.

Apart from this, i did not realise that china was capable of such serene sceneries. I always had this mindset that everything in china was going to be not up to standards, and that the entire country is polluted in every way. I did not believe that huangshan was going to be as spectacular as the swiss alps. However, after the entire tiresome climb up and down the unrelenting sides of the mountain, I inexplicably have this feeling of serenity. I could totally feel what the pioneer generation has always revered huangshan as. It was definitely different, unique and it is certainly one of the highlights of the trip. 

I have come to understand that though china may be a less economically developed country, they are still capable of much more. They were able to use current technology to come up with stunning new models. They are able to innovate and come up with shocking ideas to beat their competitors. Just like Cathay Air (the airline that is based in hong kong), though their airplanes are much smaller than ours in singapore, they are constantly finding new ways to twist and turn the odds to make it their own famed accomplishment. They were able to finds faults in Singapore's ideas and have came up with solutions that never ceased to amaze me. I am confident that in the coming years, china will continue to exceed the expectation of others and soar to new heights. Now when someone ask me what I think about china, I will definitely know how to answer them. “magnificent & spontaneous beyond measure”

PICTURES OF ANHUI

WE DON'T REMEMBER DAYS, WE REMEMBER MOMENTS

SOME MEMORIES NEVER FADE !!!

Rachel's reflection: economic development

I feel that China's economy has really developed over the years. China started of as an LDC, but is currently rising up the ranks as one of the most economically active countries in the world. This is evident through many of the products we buy. Most of them, if not all, have the words 'MADE IN CHINA' on them. This shows how successful China's economy is, and how reliant many other countries are on them. 

China's rise in economy is evident through our visits to the industrial sites, such as Meiling and iFlytech. At Meiling, we were brought to a display, which showed us the different models of refrigerators, which have improved over the years. We also learnt about the success of Meiling. This shows how much Meiling's economy has risen over the years due to their good design, as they are even able to afford a showroom for their refrigerators. 

We can also see the steadily rising economy of China through their various tourist attractions. For example, at Tunxi Ancient Street, many of us, and other tourists, bought tons of various knick-knacks. This contributes to China's tourism industry. When we were climbing Huangshan, we met many other tourists too. This shows how successful China is in attracting tourists to their country. The tourists will buy souvenirs and spend a lot of money while in there, which will contribute to China's economy.

In a nutshell, China's economy is steadily rising. We should not overlook China as an LDC and we should instead try to catch up to how rapidly their economy is growing. Soon, China will overtake other countries to become the most economically active country, and we should work hard in order to not get left behind. 

Rachel's poverty reflection

Through watching the terrible lives of the people living in poverty, I learnt to appreciate everything I have. As compared to them, the life I am living in now is paradise. I have enough food and water, a proper shelter to stay in, and an education. This was definitely more than what an African child living in poverty could wish for. I learnt that I should not take what I have for granted and to appreciate everything that I am lucky to get. 

Also, through viewing pictures of the Singaporeans living in poverty, I came to a realization that there are Singaporeans who live in poverty. I definitely should not have been living in my own bubble. I feel that we can definitely do something to help these people living in poverty out. Next time when we see a homeless man living downstairs, maybe we can smile at him and offer him some food instead of silently avoiding him or walking away. Next time when we see an elderly man or woman asking for donations, performing by the street or selling tissue paper, maybe we can help them out by giving up a little bit of our money. Our small efforts, if done by everyone, can go a long way. If we start small, we can make someone's day and improve their lives for the better.

Leong Hao Ming's reflections

I felt that this trip was a immensely enriching one. Not only was it educational but this also bonded our class as a whole. 

In this trip, we went to many historical sites of China that held much significance to the Chinese. We went to 李宏章故居 and we realised how well preserved it was. The fact that the Chinese bothered to preserve his residence shows just how adored he was amongst the Chinese. Even though there was rapid development in the surroundings, the Chinese bothered to preserve his residence. China shows how development and preserving of culture can happen simultaneously. Although China has developed rapidly over the years, they still preserved important cultures. 

For the iFlytek, I learnt how advanced technology in China was. This changed my original impression if China. We also went to 三河古镇 and I understood how Chinese used to live in the past and how their lives were. Subsequently, we went to the majestic 黄山. We scaled over 8 km and what really touched me was how we encouraged each other when we where out of breath and how we never gave up and persevered to the end. The school immersion was also immensely enriching as it made me really reflect on how we as students can improve lessons. 

I also learnt about the many differences of China and Singapore. For example cultural differences, guests were allowed to smoke in corridors and rooms in the hotel while in Singapore we have a designated smoking area. For transport, Singapore has ERP, a gantry similar to the toll gates in China. In the classrooms, the Chinese students were very enthusiastic. Their classrooms were really small and has as much as 50 students in ine classroom. 

All in all, this trip was not only a throughly enriching one but bonded our class as a whole. This trip made me learn how to appreciate Chinese culture and understand China much better. 

Brian's reflection : China's economic development

During my oelp trip to hefei, anhui, I have saw the economic development of china. On the first few days we went to Meiling 工厂 and their exhibition hall. At the exhibition hall, I saw the types of fridges that they have made through the years. From the primitive to the current touch-screen model, I think it is a good representative of how china has grown. Similarly, china in its early years felt a lot of setbacks, like corruption in its government and the high rates of poverty among people. This is mirrored with the imperfect design of the fridges. However, when I made it to the recent few(according to years)(there are a lot of fridges), I can see the slated growth, which is yet again mimicked by China's recent economic advancement.

China has always been regarded as a less economically developed country. i personally have also been having the impression that China would be unkempt and not developed with many old buildings. However, after this trip I have learnt that china is actually very developed. They are able to come up with their own version of Samsung, iFlytek. They also have made a new translation app that is very accurate and could even be better than Siri.

Though, China still has many rural areas, I feel that the economic growth has certainly hasten in the recent years. They have made many breakthroughs in technology and science, and by using the copycat+improving method they are so well known for, they have made the world's market centralised in their country. Even apple products are made there, this is a recognition of their growth.

The chinese economy has really been better compared to the backwards society china was in the past. i am impressed that china, starting out as a country so ridden with corruption that nothing was accomplished greatly, however, the country after the various wars and revolutions, the chinese were able to catch up with the world and even exceed the benchmark set by many countries.

This is my reflection on china's economy. :) magnificent

Rachel Tan's reflections

In general, I really enjoyed this OELP trip. Through this trip, I gained many experiences that I would have never gained in a classroom. I learnt many things about the culture and heritage of China. I am very thankful towards RVHS for providing me with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go overseas with my class. Not only has this trip bonded my class, it has also provided us with a wonderful learning experience.

From the wonderful plane ride to Shanghai to the flight back to Singapore, the entire overseas trip was an amazing experience. When we landed in China, I was expecting to see run-down houses accompanied with poor facilities. However, I was taken aback by the highly advanced technology in the airport. Not only did the building look fairly new, but it also had up-to-date facilities for us to use. Some more examples of the highly advanced technology in China can be seen on the high speed rail and through our industrial visits to iFlytech and Meiling. On the high-speed rail from Shanghai to Hefei, we enjoyed a very smooth ride and learnt about the advanced technology that China has. The train travelled at a mind-blowing speed of more than 200km/h, while a normal car only travels at an average of 100km/h. The ride was very comfortable, with almost no bumps on the track. We all managed to sleep soundly throughout the whole ride.Through our industrial visits to Meiling and iFlytech, we also learn about how China has developed as a country in terms of technology. At iFlytech, we got to fully experience a Samsung application in which we got to do many different things. That application was basically a Chinese version of Siri. Through the application, we got to translate from Chinese to English, or vice versa, accurately (which is rare). We can also make calls and text messages simply through speaking to the phone. The best part is, this application is free! There is also another version of this application, which can be used in a car. This is extremely convenient as through the application, we can get directions through simple voice controls. We had an amazing time in there. We also got to try a karaoke game, which was very fun. In Hefei, we learnt many things about the culture of China, such as 李鸿章's and 包公's contributions to the development of China. I learnt how they affected the future of China, through their unbiased, and innovative attitude. After walking through 三河古镇, I got an experience of how the Chinese lived in the past, and I truly experienced the rich heritage of China. The scenery was beautiful there, and I was amazed by how the residents of that area still chose to stay in there although the place was slightly old and run-down. The souvenir shops there sold  cute souvenirs for insanely cheap prices. For example, a hat there would only cost 10-15RMB ($2-$3). I bought many souvenirs from there. In 黄山, we hiked more than 8km up and down many flights of stairs. Although all of us were very exhausted and our thighs ached, we still managed to climb to the peak and get a look at the beautiful, picturesque scenery of the mountains.The air on the mountain was fresh and smelt pollution-free, unlike the air in the cities of China. To me, that was the highlight of the whole trip to Anhui. The mutual encouragement among our classmates and the photo taking bonded us as a class. I thought that the place was also relatively clean and free of litter. That was amazing considering the fact that Huangshan is, after all, a tourist attraction. We also visited various cultural sites, which were very well-preserved and told a lot about China's history. One of my favourite cultural sites in Huangshan would have to be the Tunxi Ancient Street. There were countless numbers of rows of shops, selling various knick-knacks ranging from massagers to chinese bamboo flutes, or the 笛子。Another highlight of the trip would have to be the school immersion. Before the immersion, my impression of Chinese students was that they were boring, studious and would not be fun to hang out with. In fact, I was entirely dreading the school immersion due to the fact that there would definitely be an awkward language barrier between my buddy and I. Another reason behind me dreading the school immersion was that I would have to attend the classes in their school. However, when I entered the school, I was surprised by their warm and friendly welcome. All the buddies stood at the school gate and waved to us as we entered. All of them had welcoming smiles on their visages, and they treated us kindly and politely. My buddy, Yi Zhen, welcomed me with a warm smile and introduced herself to me. Although it was still a bit awkward between the two of us, she was nothing like I expected her to be. She was fun, outgoing, and to my surprise, talkative. The massive class size of 54 made the classroom really squeezy. Including us, there was a total of 60+ people in one tiny room. I'm honestly thankful that the competition amongst students in Singapore is not as bad of that in China. Otherwise, I would have 20 more classmates, which is unimaginable. The technology in the school was really advanced. In their school, they used a smartboard, which would allow teachers and students to write on the board. This would easily allow teachers to write down notes. The notes could also easily be deleted with the push of a button. This clearly facilitated the lessons very well, as it enabled the classes to go by smoothly. The students in China are also very healthy. They run 800m everyday along their school's track. This enables them to get their daily exercise that we all need. They also do eye exercises between a certain period. This will allow their eyes to take a break and relax, in order to reduce myopia and other relative eye problems caused by overuse of our eyes.

This trip in general was a really enjoyable experience. Despite the fact that some of the meals and hotels could be better, we still loved the trip and would love the chance to go overseas with the school again. Through the patient guidance of the teachers, we learnt many new things and had a whale of a time there