On May 13th, Associate Professor WONG Wei Chin from the Chinese Culture and Global Communication (CCGC) program, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) at BNU-HKBU United International College (UIC) led 35 students from the elective course “Chinese Diaspora and Transnational Migration” to the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum and Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Museum. This museum excursion reflected a unique learning experience among students, particularly in the post-pandemic period.

This event provided students with educational opportunities to conduct field-trip investigations in person into the development and struggles of overseas Chinese in diaspora over the past few centuries. By integrating the exhibitions of both museums with 28 course readings and chapters studied in class, students could engage and gain better understandings of the intricate relationship between the Guangdong’s Reform and Opening-up policies and overseas Chinese communities.

At ten o’clock in the morning, the students arrived at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum. It is located on Ersha Island in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. This museum is the first provincial-level overseas Chinese museum in Mainland of China, with over 10,000 exhibits. Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum is significant for promoting the spirit of overseas Chinese and facilitating cultural exchanges. Under the guidance of volunteer, Mr. Wei, the students visited the four exhibitions on the history of overseas Chinese, including “Emigration”, “Hard Work”, “Cultural Inheritance” and “Noble Spirit Lasts Forever”. Through these exhibitions, the students gained better ideas of the overseas Chinese hardship and their contribution to the development of Guangdong Province, such as science, technology and art.

At the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum, students learn immensely from the exhibitions and the volunteer.

In the afternoon, the teachers and students arrived at the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Museum. It is first themed museum dedicated to overseas Chinese in the country that has been transformed from a century-old power plant building into a museum. As it showcases history while being part of the history itself, it provokes visitors to contemplate the concepts of “time” and “space” in the context of intermingling the past and present.

Under the guidance of the museum curator, the students visited four basic exhibition halls, including “History of Overseas Chinese”, “Feelings of Home and Country”, “Warm Hearts of Overseas Chinese” and “Remembering Homesickness”. Through these exhibits, the students not only deepened their understanding of the impacts and contributions of overseas Chinese on business, politics, culture, education, technology and many other fields, but also gained a crucial appreciation for the crucial role of overseas Chinese in shaping China’s image and promoting Chinese culture.

At the GuangzhouOverseas Chinese Museum, students are learning from the curator.

Students are taking photos and notes.

We were delighted to have the company of Professor HUANG Chao from the Institute of Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry at Jinan University, as well as Assistant Professor Jackie YEOH Lay Kean from English Language and Literature Studies program from UIC. Their presence have graced the event by encouraging the students to evaluate the impacts of exhibitions from different insights and perspectives.

Group photo

Acknowledgments:

· FHSS Special Teaching and Learning Grant

Reporter: Meg DUAN

Photographer: Meg DUAN

Editor: Dr. Wei Chin WONG