The Lushan Institute Opens on Mt Lu Completes its Successful First Year in Summer 2011
Dr. Cheng, Dean from NJU Takes a Shot
The Lushan Institute for Chinese Language and Culture completed its first
summer program atop China’s famous Mt Lu in July of 2011. The “Lushan
Institute” was first inspired by the Kuling American School Association (KASA),
Americans whose families lived in China beginning in the l890’s. KASA formed a partnership with Nanjing
University Institute for International Students, The Lushan Scenic Bureau and
the leading Party Secretary to see the school born. Lushan was once the premier summer hill
resort in China and then known as “Kuling”, a site made famous by of annual
pilgrimages of Pearl Buck, Ching-Kai-Shek, and of Mao Tse Tung’s “Lushan
Conferences”, Lushan carries thousands
of years of historical import to China and its culture.
The Lushan Institute is unique educational institution in China with a story of endearing friendship which reconnects historical bridges between East and West that no other Institution can lay claim to. Opening on July 4th, 2011, the Institute moved in to the new dorm and classroom facility only a few hundred meters up the hill from where the old Kuling American School still stands (1916-1937), a monument to the rich and complex history from China’s magic mountain in the early 20th century.
The Lushan Institute is unique educational institution in China with a story of endearing friendship which reconnects historical bridges between East and West that no other Institution can lay claim to. Opening on July 4th, 2011, the Institute moved in to the new dorm and classroom facility only a few hundred meters up the hill from where the old Kuling American School still stands (1916-1937), a monument to the rich and complex history from China’s magic mountain in the early 20th century.
Students arrived safe and sound, by train and plane
into Nanchang coming from as far away as Australia, Switzerland, South Africa, and the
USA. The Nanjing University professors were highly qualified and leaders in the
field of teaching Chinese language and culture programs to international
students. Lushan delivered a supporting
cast of over a dozen volunteers who helped students learn their Chinese tones
and improve their Chinese speaking. In addition to the students, Lushan was filled
with the energy of world class ‘forest artists’ from Germany, Italy, France,
Japan and China. The artists created numerous
natural art works along the Yellow Dragon trail and held evening guest lectures
with the students covering their work. Completing the international cultural
exchange program was a talented Philippine band who played songs from Paul
Simon and the Beatles in the Kuling town square as many cultures returned to
the mountain to join in multiple levels of cultural exchange. There were smiles everywhere, laughter in the
corridors, as the Institute sprang forth with friendship and great international
spirit.
For 2011-2012, the Kuling American School Association, Nanjing University, and the Lushan Administration are collectively committing themselves to the permanent establishment of the Institute, where students from all nations will have the opportunity to learn the Chinese language and study China’s rich history and culture, to build lasting friendships, and to experience the mystique and majesty of Lushan.
We re-traced the steps of the Kuling experience where for one of the first time Westerners and Chinese first lived together, climbing the mountain road to escape to searing heat of the Nanjing summer and to learn together in its unique environment.
Please join us in Lushan 2012 as we roll out an expanded Chinese Cultural program with Nanjing University and the Lushan Scenic Bureau.
Lushan Institute August 2011
For 2011-2012, the Kuling American School Association, Nanjing University, and the Lushan Administration are collectively committing themselves to the permanent establishment of the Institute, where students from all nations will have the opportunity to learn the Chinese language and study China’s rich history and culture, to build lasting friendships, and to experience the mystique and majesty of Lushan.
We re-traced the steps of the Kuling experience where for one of the first time Westerners and Chinese first lived together, climbing the mountain road to escape to searing heat of the Nanjing summer and to learn together in its unique environment.
Please join us in Lushan 2012 as we roll out an expanded Chinese Cultural program with Nanjing University and the Lushan Scenic Bureau.
Lushan Institute August 2011