West Orange High School Students Return from Chinese Exchange Program

West Orange High School students in the Mandarin Chinese Language program traveled to China for two weeks as part of the school district’s exchange program with the Chinese government earlier this month, school district officials said.

The Mandarin Chinese Language program is one of only 100 Chinese programs in the country that is recognized and accredited for its rigor, success and involvement with China, officials from West Orange Public Schools said. The program is available to students in grades eight through 12.

Fifteen students and teacher chaperons Chiaohan Peggy Yu and Yajing Li toured four cities in China. “From April 4-6, we toured Beijing’s famous historical sites including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Hutong - the Beijing​ residential alleys,” Li said in a release.

Students also had the opportunity to climb the Great Wall and sample authentic Peking Duck and a real tea tasting ceremony. The group arrived in Hangzhou on April 7 and stayed with host families during the evenings.

“Our students have proved to be caring, strong, and practical,” Li added. “They helped each other to overcome hardship, and in the end, become one loving and unified group.”

According to officials from West Orange Public Schools, through a reciprocal relationship established with the Asian Society and Hanban in China, the high school began working with The Hangzhou Foreign Language School in Beijing. Since 2008, West Orange High School has received grants from the Chinese government, ranging from $10,000 to $51,000 annually, to help fund the Mandarin Chinese Language program, school district officials said.

Last year, 12 students from the Hangzhou School of Foreign School visited West Orange High School.

(Photo courtesy of West Orange Public Schools)