2019 Software Engineering international students visit the Forbidden City

School of Software Engineering from Beijing Jiaotong University has recently organized a visit to the Forbidden City for 67 of its international students. Brought by their international student counsellor – Jiaqi Sun – these students have been able to experience the Chinese Culture, Chinese History and Ancient Chinese Architecture. As the students take part in Chinese Culture class that stands in the school, they have also the opportunities to join the social practice class in the real place of what they learnt. This time, it was the Forbidden City. Going to the Forbidden City is a fulfilment of the classroom’s study in the school.

Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace (故宫), stands out as a world heritage site and for sure as an undeniable breath-taking China monument. It is the largest wooden structured palace founded on earth and attests of the ancient building’s History of China. Thus, the Forbidden City, a fascinating monument, was a must to go.

[Students]: After an hour-long trip, we were finally there, standing in its magnificent presence, in front of the Meridian Gate. It is the world’s largest palace complex, covering around 74 hectares. Pretty impressive to be in one of those 8,704 rooms! Furthermore, having knowledge from Chinese Culture class helps us to understand better this monument History or what used to happen there and who had the right to pass which bridge or not under penalty of punishment. It was impossible not to feel the burden of the past.

The Forbidden City has been an imposing seat of Chinese imperial power for almost 600 years as it was the palace of 24 emperors. Finally, thanks to our Chinese Culture class, all students had been able to figure out the meaning of Chinese architecture symbols and cultural significant designs. For instance, students were not only able to understand why there are different numbers of animal statuettes on top of palace roofs but also able to interpret the specific buildings’colours and the complexity or their structure. It was very interesting and funny to put into practice in real place what we have learnt before. Most of the students were mesmerized by the delicate charm of the typical ancient Chinese architecture.

At the end of the day, it was an excellent opportunity for software engineering international students to discover something from the vast Chinese culture, to enjoy this trip to its fullest and to have a good time all together with full stars in the eyes.

Written by: Juliette DANEL and Clara AUGIE

Edited by: Valentin LEMORT, Juliette DANEL and Clara AUGIE

Photographer: Clara AUGIE

Checked and approved by: Teacher Jiaqi SUN