Elementary school honoured by UNESCO

One elementary school in Beijing has just been honoured for its strength in passing on cultural heritages to its students.

One elementary school in Beijing has just been honoured for its strength in passing on cultural heritages to its students.

An expert on folk culture is teaching students the 24 solar terms on the Chinese lunar calendar, which has a close relationship with agricultural production. The day this class falls is "Little Snow", one of the 24 terms in the lunar calendar. The expert teaches the students the origin of the term and how Beijingers traditionally spend the the day.

At another class students are taught how to make paper fans, along with their history.

"I've learned about China's 3000-year fan-making history. They come in various shapes and sizes." Student said.

UNESCO have awarded the Sui An Bo Elementary School the title of "Exemplary in Intangible Cultural Heritage Education". Lots of folk culture experts have accordingly been invited to the school.

Guo Guixia, Principal of Sui An Bo Elementary School, said, "We hope to pass on these traditions through our students to other people. Many traditions are dying out, and we hope to do something to alter the trend."

"Some people might want to learn these things but there's no way for them to do it. So we invite experts to the campus. The students may not become a master of these skills, but learning something from the tradition will be good for their future." Said Han Shuo, Beijing Folk Culture Assoc..

Classes and activities held in the school aim to blend art appreciation, knowledge, and a sense of cultural identity into the teaching of these skills.