Walking beneath the magnolia and crabapple trees at Five Dragon Pool in Jinan, gazing at the clear waters of Baotu Spring and the chubby golden carp, taking a leisurely city walk around Daming Lake. Recently, accompanied by teachers from Jinan Foreign Language School, students and teachers from Lycée La Fontaine in France explored Daming Lake, Baotu Spring, and Wulongtan, immersing themselves in Jinan's springtime beauty. They joined in square dancing, played shuttlecock, tasted sugar paintings, visited the Lao She Memorial Hall, and took photos with Jinan girls in Hanfu costumes... Though their time was short, they left behind many wonderful memories of Jinan during this "one-day tour.”
Amélie, 17, a high school student from France, has been studying Chinese for ten years. "I love Chinese culture and have been learning Chinese since I was young," she said. Looking back on her previous visit to China while in primary school, her first visit to Jinan was a different experience. Like Amélie, Lucien has been studying Chinese for ten years and can express his thoughts and feelings about Jinan fluently. "Jinan has beautiful scenery and architecture, quieter than Beijing," he said. When he tasted Jinan's sugar painting, he shared the "sweet" experience with his companions.
Speaking of food, many French students mentioned the hotpot, seafood, and various Shandong dishes they enjoyed with their host families. For He Baichuan, a French Chinese teacher visiting Jinan for the second time, making sure to try "bazi meat" has become one of his must-do activities in Jinan. "I heard that Jinan's bazi meat is very famous, and I hope to have the chance to taste it."
Although it was his second time in Jinan, visiting Baotu Spring was a first-time experience for He Baichuan. "The spring water gushes up from underground, the environment is great, the scenery is beautiful, and there are many tourists," he said, reminiscent of the natural scenery in his hometown of Provence.
Bringing his beloved students to experience the scenery and culture of Jinan, He Baichuan hopes everyone not only has a fun time but also gains a deeper understanding of Chinese culture through this study tour. In his Chinese classes in France, He Baichuan once taught his students Lao She's "Teahouse.” This time, under the guidance of French teachers from Jinan Foreign Language School, He Baichuan and his students visited the Lao She Memorial Hall located in the Daming Lake Scenic Area. With the explanations from the guide, they learned more about Lao She and his literary works.
(Li Xiaotong; Gong Lili; Hua Shan; Yuan Yuhua; Liu Xiaohan; Lou Xinyu; Hou Yawen; Liang Ruixin; Li Jiayin; Liu Lu; Xu Jiayi; Yang Yang; Chong Yaqi; Yuan Yaning）