Han Ximin

1824295095@qq.com

WU MIAOMIAO, an employee of the Shenzhen North Station, received a thank-you banner presented by 131 students from Wuhan, Central China’s Hubei Province, during her shift Saturday.

The students, who had been on a study tour of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, departed for Hong Kong from the Shenzhen North Station on July 3.  Wu not only assisted the students through the necessary checks, but also gave each of them a hand-drawn transfer guide. She also made a note of their return date and informed her colleagues on shift to arrange their safe trip back to Wuhan.

Train tours

Since the start of the summer travel season July 1, coinciding with the summer vacation for Shenzhen schools, there has been a notable increase in study tours at Shenzhen railway stations.

On July 7, more than 500 students from Shenzhen and Hong Kong left Shenzhen by train to explore the nation’s rich culture and history. This 12-day tour, organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Industries and Commerce and Nanshan Bilingual School, is an exceptional cultural exploration. The students visited Wuhan, Beijing, Hohhot, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, and Ganzhou to immerse themselves in Chinese culture.

“This [trip] provides us a good chance to see the magnificent landscapes of our motherland and gain knowledge about the profound history of the Chinese nation,” said Zhang Hua, head of Nanshan Bilingual School, after returning to the city. Zhang added that the students can become inspired and hopeful about their future learning and lives by participating in the trip.

Data from the Shenzhen North Station showed that the city’s railway served a total of 10.7 million passengers in the first 20 days since the summer transport season began, an increase of 168,200 passengers compared with the same period last year.

Cross-river tours

More than 2 million vehicles passed through the Shenzhong Link in the 20 days since it opened June 30, with daily traffic averaging 100,000 vehicles.

The link has become a popular route for educational tours between Shenzhen and Zhongshan during the summer break.

Recently, more than 50 young individuals from Gangkou Township in Zhongshan and over 100 students from Shenzhen participated in a cultural tour.

“The link is not just a physical bridge, but also an intangible link that enhances cultural exchanges and strengthens the cultural unity of the Pearl River Delta cities. It further intensifies the popularity of summer study tours in the Pearl River Delta, particularly in Shenzhen and Zhongshan,” said Yang Yuzhe, head of the Bao’an Museum.

With its abundant educational resources, Shenzhen has become a popular destination for summer study tours. Various types of tours, including those themed on cultural heritage, museum, scientific and technological innovation, Shenzhen-Hong Kong gourmet food, and ecology, have attracted the attention of families and children and drawn them to the city.

Taking Bao’an as an example, Yang said the district is home to several items of national intangible cultural heritage, such as the Huang Liansheng Lion Dance in Shangchuan and the Huang Clan Ancestral Hall ancient architectural complex. Yang also mentioned cultural landmarks, such as the Bay Glory Ferris wheel in OH Bay and the Bao’an 1990 art gallery, as well as technological tourism sites like high-tech firms and  industrial parks.

On the other side of the river, Zhongshan has also become a hot spot for summer camps and study tours due to its rich cultural history. The Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum explores the life and legacy of the renowned statesman who led a revolution that ended imperial rule in China. The Memorial Park of the 1911 Revolution is located next to the museum. Together, they are a popular destination for children from Shenzhen who are interested in learning about Chinese history and the life of Sun Yat-sen.

A joint summer camp, recently organized by the youth service centers in Shenzhen and Zhongshan, provided students from the two cities with an opportunity to explore high-tech innovations in Shenzhen, discover historical and cultural landmarks in Zhongshan, participate in making traditional handicrafts related to intangible cultural heritage, and engage with engineers from new energy vehicle giant BYD.

The launch of the Shenzhong Link has led to more families from Hong Kong visiting cities in the Pearl River Delta region.

According to a recent report by Tongcheng Travel, seven cities in Guangdong Province, including Shenzhen, ranked among the top 20 most popular destinations for Hong Kong tourists.

As the summer vacation season progresses, the number of visitors from Hong Kong exploring various attractions in Shenzhen continues to rise, particularly in family-friendly recreational areas that are highly sought after by Hong Kong travelers.

Zhao Kun, the marketing director of Evergreen World in Nanshan District, said the park has also received educational tour groups from Hong Kong.