Let century old prestigious schools bring their own innovative genes and open their doors for education. The former site of Xuhui Public School, Chongsi Building, will be open to the public for free during the summer vacation
Every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday during this summer, Chongsi Building, the former site of Xuhui Public School, is open to the public for free. In the prime location of Xujiahui, opposite Ganghui Henglong Square, along Hongqiao Road, as the first stop of Xujiahui Source, a national AAAA level tourist attraction, Xuhui Middle School at No. 68 Hongqiao Road is the former site of Xuhui Public School.
No. 68 Hongqiao Road, Xuhui Middle School
How to nourish the city and culture in both directions? The journalist from Jiefang Daily and Shangguan News walked into the campus and had an immersive experience. It was not only a journey to review the education history of modern Shanghai, but also to explore the "management password" behind the integration and symbiosis of campus opening up to the outside world and the city.
Integrating with the campus to make century old buildings readable
Integrating with the campus to make century old buildings readable
Xuhui Middle School History Museum
Entering the campus, pushing open the "mysterious gate", the excellent historical building of Shanghai with a hundred years of history, Chongsi Tower, is presented in its original form. The entire century old building, alternating red, gray, and white, has a beautiful appearance, sturdy design, and presents mathematical beauty. The exterior has 18 Corinthian columns, emphasizing symmetry and reflecting the beauty of mathematical logic. The pattern of the Corinthian capital is a plant with thorns in the Mediterranean region, symbolizing a strong vitality despite facing difficulties, making it suitable for decorating schools that blend Chinese and Western elements.
Xuhui Middle School History Museum
The desk of the old principal
Chongsi Building was built in 1915, designed and personally supervised by Belgian scholar Di Si Ni. It was completed in 1918 and is the only building on the site of Xuhui Middle School that has been preserved to this day, with unique historical and cultural value. The Xuhui Middle School History Museum on the first floor of Chongsi Building, featuring the old principal's desk, manual paper press, copper bells for going to and from class, and desks and chairs for self-study classes, recreates the desks, chairs, and teaching scenes of the time. The immersive visiting experience feels like returning to a modern classroom more than 100 years ago. The reason why museums can collect so many cultural relics is because the school site has never changed since its establishment. The Xuhui Middle School History Museum, also known as the Huixue Museum, which is currently open to the public on the first floor, is divided into five museums: Huixue Footprints, Inheritance, Collection, and Ma Xiangbo Museum, recording the 173 year history of a prestigious school. The Huixue Corridor on the side of Chongsi Building is also open to the public for free every weekend on weekdays. Strolling along the century old bullet road beneath my feet, I witnessed the history and development of this "campus without walls".
Huixue Corridor
On weekends, many parents bring their children to check in at Chongsi Building, the former site of Xuhui Public School. "The integration of the 'campus without walls' with the surrounding commercial districts and communities, and the integration of culture and the city is really good!" Mr. Jin, a citizen, said that the whole family has already strolled around. In the green and shaded campus, century old historical buildings complement each other, making them even more admire this school. He also hopes that children can establish their aspirations from a young age and study hard in the future. In the summer afternoon, there was a shower, and many tourists sat in the auditorium on the first floor of Chongsi Building, watching school history films. What made him even more eager to like during this check-in was the highly open campus, which allows him to visit without the need for advance reservations.
Ma Xiangbo Square
【 Open door education, explore sample significance for the future 】
The school anthem and inspirational stories on the wall inspire students. The Chongsi Building, the former site of Xuhui Public School, is open to the public for free and is welcomed by the public. Some visitors have lived nearby and studied here at a young age. The open visiting experience provides citizens and tourists with a unique opportunity to touch on the historical stories of Shanghai. In order to provide visitors with a better understanding of Xuhui Public School, during the summer, the school also specially arranged high school freshmen to serve as volunteer interpreters, providing professional guidance and answers. Through the interaction between visitors and guides, learn more about the historical stories and celebrity stories of Xuhui Public School, and appreciate the educational style of modern Shanghai together.
Xuhui Public School was founded in 1850 and is one of the oldest and earliest schools in Shanghai to follow the Western educational model. The first Chinese president was Ma Xiangbo, from which eight academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering emerged.
Ma Xiangbo Square
Academician Corridor
The school anthem and inspirational stories on the wall inspire students. The Chongsi Building, the former site of Xuhui Public School, is open to the public for free and is welcomed by the public. Some visitors have lived nearby and studied here at a young age. The open visiting experience provides citizens and tourists with a unique opportunity to touch on the historical stories of Shanghai. In order to provide visitors with a better understanding of Xuhui Public School, during the summer, the school also specially arranged high school freshmen to serve as volunteer interpreters, providing professional guidance and answers. Through the interaction between visitors and guides, learn more about the historical stories and celebrity stories of Xuhui Public School, and appreciate the educational style of modern Shanghai together.
Chongsi Building is open to the public for free, providing citizens and tourists with a unique visiting experience.
Today's Chongsi Building serves as a school history museum on the first floor, a library on the second floor, and an art classroom for students to attend classes on the fourth floor. The students said that taking art classes here has a strong sense of immersion, inheriting and innovating in culture. "Open the door to education, let this century old prestigious school bring its own innovative genes." Zeng Xianyi, the special principal of Xuhui Middle School, was the 27th principal to succeed Ma Xiangbo. He made the museum's school history course the first lesson for every Xuhui student. In his view, this new school, which was the first in the history of modern Chinese education to carry out teaching in different disciplines and classes, had an innovative spirit since its establishment. "Education should start from around, open the school gate, and allow ordinary citizens to come and visit, so that students can truly understand and encourage innovative research. Education is not about teaching children 4 or 7 years, but about teaching them how to face the future 70 years." In 2020, Xuhui High School was established as a Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation High School, offering 32 science and technology course groups to explore the significance of using science and technology innovation education to achieve a sample oriented future.
