Night schools have surged in popularity across major cities in China, as a growing number of people are embracing a new lifestyle of working during the day and taking classes of what they are interested in at night.
As night falls, after rush hour, instead of returning home or enjoying a nice dinner, more and more young people in Shanghai would like to take a class in night schools which now provide a diverse range of courses, catering to personal interests and lifestyle enrichment, including vocal music, calligraphy, oil painting, coffee art, cake baking, embroidery, vlog production, Thai boxing and martial arts.
At a community center in Shanghai, a class about how to get around well with pets is well-received.
"I'm starting a food and beverage business. This is my first time coming to a night school, I'm interested in pets. The class has taught me many things I couldn't learn on my own. Night schools often teach things related to hobbies, including some handicrafts, so it's totally different from work," said one of the students.
More than 97 percent of the residents at the community are people aged below 40. This community started their night school project as early as last October. The courses have been covering topics including 5G technology, photography, sports and handicrafts.
"We now teach two courses per month on average. The young people in our community are from different industries. They have different hobbies, experience and backgrounds. And they have different characteristics. So we have been continuously adding more courses," said Zhang Yiying, manager of the Youth Center, Chengkaihui Community.
There are also night school courses at bookstores. Driven by shared interests, night schools provide an opportunity to make new friends within minutes.
"This is my second time attending the course. It enriches my afterwork life. I can get to know some people my age," said a student.
Night schools are a part of Youth Development Project in Xuhui District in Shanghai. Since April, more than 70 night school courses have been available every month. Nearly 6,000 people aged 18 to 35 have enrolled in a night school class.
Night schools become increasingly popular in Shanghai
A special cultural event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held in Berlin, Germany on Saturday.
Titled "Written in the Sky: My China Story," the event was jointly organized by China Media Group (CMG), the Chinese Embassy in Germany, and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education.
During the event, the John Rabe Communication Center, the German Burg Chinese Chorus, the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, and the Federation of Germany-China Friendship Association officially joined the global partnership program of the "Written in the Sky: My China Story" campaign and were awarded certificates on Saturday.
The German Burg Chinese Chorus performed classic Chinese and German songs, including "On Wings of Song" and "Jasmine Flower." The Shenzhou-18 crew, currently in orbit, sent a video message from the space station and interacted with German teenagers.
The attendees of the event held in Berlin agreed that as the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative have gained increasing global support, China has not only brought opportunities to the world but also built bridges of friendship with people from various countries.
Attendees wrote their wishes for the PRC's 75th anniversary, expressing their commitment to continuing their stories with China to address global challenges and create a better future for humanity.
Shen Haixiong, president of CMG, stated that China aims to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges, promote dialogue among global civilizations, and enhance mutual understanding.
"We will portray the ultimate romantic warmth of Chinese culture, record the continuous legacy of human civilization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind," said Shen.
Chinese Ambassador to Germany Deng Hongbo noted that both China and Germany have a profound cultural heritage, and their mutual appreciation and exchange of knowledge have been ongoing.
In an era of challenges, Deng emphasized the need for strengthened communication and cooperation, expressing hope that more young Germans will learn Chinese, develop an interest in Chinese culture, visit China, and become ambassadors of Sino-German friendship and exchange.
Nearly 200 attendees from various sectors, including politics, culture, diplomacy, economy, and trade, as well as young teachers and students, participated in the event.
Multiple mainstream European media, such as Italy's il Giornale and EU Reporter, covered the event, reaching a total audience of nearly 15 million in Europe.
Launched in March this year, the campaign “Written in the Sky: My China Story” has collected more than 1,600 stories from China and over 60 countries across the globe. It will also be held in other countries, including the U.S., Canada, Russia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Special event celebrating 75th anniversary of founding of PRC held in Berlin
