Foreign students journey through history at Shanghai World Expo Museum

Tongji University in Shanghai recently offered overseas students from J. F. Oberlin University in Japan and the University of Cologne in Germany who are studying Chinese language a captivating journey through the rich history of the World Expo at the Shanghai World Expo Museum.

The Shanghai World Expo Museum is the oldest international museum in Shanghai, serving as the only permanent official World Expo museum and documentation center authorized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) worldwide. As most of the students had little knowledge about the Expo, the visit aimed to enhance their understanding of the event.

To teach them about the World Expo in China, Japan, and Germany, the university provided students with bilingual visit mission books in Chinese, German and Japanese. The book served as a guide for participants and encouraged question-oriented learning.

Throughout the visit, the students not only explored the Expo's history but also witnessed advancements in modern technology. They observed that many of the vital elements in their daily lives were first introduced to the world at various expos.

The students said they were struck by how each World Expo exhibited the characteristics of its host country while showcasing the beauty of their respective cultures.

At the "Century Event" exhibition hall, the students witnessed the entire process of building the Shanghai World Expo, from bidding and planning to construction and its eventual reveal to the world. The visit allowed them to answer many questions in their mission book. They particularly liked the event's "Better City, Better Life" theme and the adorable mascot Haibao.

They were eager to locate their countries' venues in the extensive model, learn about exciting events that took place on their national venue day in the "Expo Memory" section, and listen to volunteers recount how popular their country's venues were.

During the visit, participants learned about their respective countries' experiences hosting the World Expo. They said that this on-site study taught them that global development and progress require collective wisdom and collaboration among nations.