On an autumn afternoon with a gentle breeze, the students of Class 3-2 from the Chinese Intensive Program stepped into ShenYuan— one of the representative Jiangnan gardens — under the soft sunshine of early autumn in Shanghai, embarking on a social practice activity themed “Exploring the Beauty of Classical Architecture.”

Shen Garden, located within Shanghai Expo Cultural Park, blends traditional Jiangnan garden style with modern urban landscapes. Through techniques like arranging hills and waterways, constructing buildings and bridges, it creates a layout of "mountains in the north, water in the south, gardens in the east, and parks in the west", showcasing Jiangnan garden charm and embodying Jiangnan culture essence.

I. Preliminary Introduction

This activity, aligned with Chinese textbook themes, aims to help students master traditional architecture vocabulary and deeply understand Chinese architecture and garden art culture. Before the visit, the teacher used a PPT to introduce structure types like pavilions, terraces, towers, etc., and garden concepts such as "harmony between humans and nature" and "seeing the big in the small", laying a knowledge foundation for the on-site exploration.

II. Group Exploration to Discover Classical Beauty 

Based on interests, students formed groups with designed tasks to explore Shen Garden. Some took photos under upturned eaves; others paused before windows and doorways to enjoy ancient architecture's subtlety. Some sought the "Four Gentlemen of Flowers" and "Three Friends of Winter" to experience human-nature harmony; others walked along perspective-shifting paths to feel the garden's spatial wisdom and poetic rhythm.

III. Garden Engagement for Cultural Exchange

During the exploration, students interviewed visitors on classical architecture impressions, asking questions like "Which Shen Garden building or landscape do you like best?" and "How does it reflect Chinese culture's subtlety?" These conversations enabled real-context Chinese practice, adding warmth and fun to cultural learning.

IV. Achievements Sharing

After the activity, each group organized materials and created videos, PPTs, and posters to showcase their garden world understanding. Using lenses and language, students recorded a discovery-filled cultural exploration journey, from ancient building structures to garden philosophy.

Social practice activity is an extension of Chinese class, taking students into various aspects of life in Chinese society, applying Chinese in real-life context, and gaining language progress and cultural insights.