Ten days in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
Over October half term, students from Years 10, 11 and 13 spent ten days in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan with Mrs Lewis and Mr Fok. The trip gave them the chance to practise their Mandarin every day and see life in three very different parts of East Asia.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s mix of Eastern and Western culture was clear from the start. Students got around by metro, bus and ferry, which gave them a real feel for daily life in one of Asia’s busiest cities. They walked along Victoria Harbour by day and returned at night to see the famous skyline. Later they rode the historic Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak, with views across the harbour and the surrounding islands, and learnt about the colonial-era architecture that tells the story of the city’s history.
A highlight was our visit to CCC Ming Yin College, where Mrs Lewis presented Principal Chan with a Hockerill PE polo shirt as a mark of friendship between our two schools. Students joined Mathematics and Music lessons, watched basketball training and designed traditional fans. It was a first-hand look at school life in Hong Kong and a chance to make new international friends.
No visit to Hong Kong would be complete without dim sum, and the students made sure they tried plenty.
Macau
Chinese and Portuguese heritage has shaped Macau for centuries, and students saw both sides of it at Senado Square, the Ruins of St Paul’s and the A-Ma Temple. They also tried Portuguese fusion dishes such as bacalhau (salt cod) balls and Macau curry chicken.
Taiwan
In Taipei, students climbed Elephant Peak for panoramic views over the city and visited the National Palace Museum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of Chinese artefacts. The group then travelled to Sun Moon Lake for a boat trip before heading south to Tainan. There they visited the Tianhou Temple, Confucius Temple and Chihkan Tower, tracing the city’s history from Dutch settlement to the present day.
Food was a big part of the Taiwan experience. Students explored the night markets, where they bargained with vendors for souvenirs. Favourite dishes included soup dumplings, fresh seafood, shrimp rolls, braised pork rice and local vegetarian specialities. Many students also spent time in Taipei’s art districts and shopping areas.
Hands-on culture
Throughout the trip, students took part in tea-making and Chinese calligraphy workshops. They brought home their own tea leaves and calligraphy as keepsakes.
For many, this was their first time in Asia. By the end of the trip they were using chopsticks with confidence and speaking Chinese with local people, and they came home more independent and with plenty to bring back into their Mandarin lessons.
Mandarin is one of six languages students can study at Hockerill, alongside French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.
Mr Fok, Teacher of Mandarin
