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MSRS Organized Quanzhou Cultural Exploration for 120 Students
2023-08-10
A delegation consists of 130 members, including 120 secondary and university students, six teachers and instructors, embarked on the "Quanzhou – Maritime Silk Road Exploration" tour on 8 August. Organized by the Maritime Silk Road Society (MSRS), the tour aims to help participants familiarize themselves with historic role played by the port city of Quanzhou in the development of the Maritime Silk Road, as well as the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) by visiting the historical and cultural sites.
Mrs Regina Ip, Convenor of the Executive Council, LegCo Member and Co-Chair of Maritime Silk Road Society, is the leader of the tour; Prof Lau Chi Pang, Associate Vice-President of Lingnan University and LegCo Member, is the honorary advisor; Ms Susanna Chiu, President of Shanghai-Hong Kong Coalition of Professionals, is the advisor; Mrs Annie Ma, Council Member of Hong Kong Chinese Women's Club, is the special guest of the tour.
The tour is sponsored by Mr Lam Shu Chit, Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations; and supported by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee.
The tour started off in the morning of 8 August from the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station. Upon arrival at Zhangzhou Station, the tour visited Dadi Tulou Cluster which was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
On 9 August, the tour visited Quanzhou Southern Shaolin Monastery and was treated to Kungfu demonstrations before seeing the Quanzhou Museum. In the afternoon, the tour visited several historical and religious sites such as the Qingjing Mosque, the Kaiyuan Temple, Sweet Dew Altar of Precepts and the Twin Pagoda. In the evening, the delegates were warmly received by the Head of United Front Work Department of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Liu Linshuang, and Deputy Head, Mr Zhuang Shaojin, and representatives from Quanzhou Overseas Friendship Association.
Speaking at the gathering, Mrs Ip recalled her trip to Quanzhou with over 120 students in March 2016, when the MSRS was newly established. Bringing another batch of young students to Quanzhou seven years later held a special meaning to her. She also highlighted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI and Quanzhou as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and a renowned site on UNESCO's World Heritage List. She also anticipated that this trip would strengthen the bilateral relations of Hong Kong and Quanzhou and bring about more collaborative opportunities.
The remaining programme will cover the Shimao Maritime Silk Road Museum, Shishi Clothing Wholesale Outlet, Mani Cao'an Temple, Wudianshi Traditional Blocks, Zheng Chenggong Memorial Hall and the Island Ring Boulevard in Xiamen. The tour will conclude at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station in the evening of 11 August.
Photo Captions:
1. Group photo at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station
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2. Group photo at Quanzhou Southern Shaolin Monastery
3. Group photo at Qingjing Mosque
4. Mrs Regina Ip presented the Certificate of Appreciation to the Head of United Front Work Department of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee, Mr Liu Linshuang
5. Group photo of representatives of the Quanzhou Cultural Tour and United Front Work Department of the CPC Quanzhou Municipal Committee
6. Visiting Kaiyuen Temple
