An antique bookshelf, two traditional bamboo chairs, a pair of old-fashioned wooden windows, and rows of books… In the library of Shanghai American School, there is such a corner full of Chinese characteristics, which is “Window of Shanghai” established by the Shanghai Library in cooperation with the school.
In 2002, “Window of Shanghai”, the Shanghai Library’s foreign cultural exchange project came into being, aiming to introduce Chinese history and culture by donating domestically published books to overseas libraries and collection organizations. Over the past 20 years, “Window of Shanghai” has been gradually built into an urban cultural brand with world influence, and has served as a bridge and link that plays an important role in China’s foreign cultural exchanges.
Under the matchmaking of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, this window for cultural friendship and exchange is now opened in the Shanghai American School, ranked as the 178th Window around the world.
On April 25, 2023, Xu Qiang, Deputy Director of Shanghai Library, held a handover ceremony with Christophe Henry, Principal of Shanghai American School (Puxi District). Jing Ying, Vice President of the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Li Weiping, Secretary-General of Shanghai Education International Exchange Association, attended the ceremony.
Many students in the American School receive bilingual education. A student representative said that when he needs to read Chinese books, he often goes to the Shanghai Library to borrow them. Now “Window of Shanghai” can make it easier for them to have access to the rich collection of the Library, enjoy high-quality Chinese books, and thus better understand Chinese culture.
The school also expressed its gratitude to the Shanghai Library. Henry believes that it is very important for more children to have a real understanding of China, which will lay a solid foundation for them to engage in Sino-US exchanges and cooperation in the future.
(Source: Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries)