“The Chinese language is what proves we are all Chinese,” the headmaster of Jiu Gang No.3 Middle School at Jiayu Pass in Gansu province said. “Here are your roots, and your home. All of you are welcome to come back here any time you want.”

Sponsored by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and organized by the Gansu Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the autumn camp called “Seeking roots in China for overseas Chinese” was held for 2019. 40 campers stayed with students of Jiugang No.3 Middle School — not only to get acquainted with local customs, but to deeply learn about the culture for Chinese students.

Jiayu Pass is well-known as the grandest Great Wall pass in China, and served as a vital communication path in the ancient Silk Road. It also marks the beginning of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. Within the Jiayu Pass are a variety of terrains and landscapes, such as tundra, desert, forest, grassland, lake and Danxia, which is also famous for the Silk Road and the Great Wall.

Jiugang No.3 Middle School is a key school in Gansu province and a provincial-level model high school. Several language courses will soon be improved, such as French, German, Japanese and Arabic. Spanish is a newly added course, and these programs of study will play important roles in forging forward Silk Road education programs and cultivating more excellent people in international communication.

Members of the autumn camp visit the lab in Jiugang No.3 Middle School.

Guided by teachers at the middle school, Thai-Chinese youths visited the campus, exploring the many buildings and facilites. “I’ve never seen this before in Thailand,” some were heard to say. They were surprised advanced curricula and equipment are available in the west of China as well.

Students established friendships with each other, even in the limited time they had to spend together. Li Xihzong, director of international cultural communication center at the school, said he hoped everyone would experience the fascinating culture of Silk Road.