KS2 Geography: A child-led tour of Shanghai in China

Hi! My name is Zhe Wen.I'm ten years old.My nickname is Wen Wen.I live in Shanghai.

TRANSLATION:It's the city by the East China Sea.This is the Huangpu River.Shanghai is a mix of modernand old and traditional.It's a hectic, energeticand noisy city.

Shanghai has over 23 million peopleliving in the city.Everybody is so busy,they don't stop.I also have very busy days.I set off for school at 7:40am.I speak Chinese Mandarinto my motherand also to my classmates at school.But in Shanghai there's a separatelanguage called Shanghainese.

It's different to Mandarinor Cantonese.I can't speak it,but I understand some.On the way to school, we have tostop at more than 10 traffic lights.Most children startarriving from 7:50 to 8:10 am.Lots of children come to schoolwith their grandparents.We all bow to our teacherswhen we come in.This is to greet the teachersand show respect.

At 8:10am, the gates close.I finish school at 3:10pm,but sometimes I have extra classes.Today I'm going to my teacher'shouse for my cello lesson.It's some way away,so I get the metro.

TRAIN BEEPS ITS HORN

Shanghai has a huge metro network.There are 13 linesand over 200 stations.Over five million people take itper day.It's the fourth busiest metro linein the world.

CAR HORNS BEEPING

On the way to my teacher, I passa famous area called the Bund.You will see that Shanghaiis split into two by the river.This is the Huangpu River.It's the end part ofthe Yangtze River,which is the longest riverin Asia.

It's very busy,with lots of boats passing by.Over there, you can seethe modern new side.The tallest building,with the hole at the top,is the World Financial Centre.It's the third tallest in the world.I'd better get to my cello lessonnow.

My cello teacher is called Mrs Zhou.She's taught a lot of cellists.I've been learningfor over a year.I've already entered a cellocompetition and won third prize.Weekends are also very busy for me.I go to lots of extra classes.

This one isa design and technology class.In the class,we're given different tasks.Usually making cars, planesor boats.Some of the pieces are really tinyso you have to be careful,and it's quite difficult to do.After this class,I do Olympic maths.

TEACHER SPEAKS IN MANDARIN

Olympic maths is verypopular in China.It prepares you for mathscompetitions.You learn how to solve problems andit's a good exercise for your brain.Doing Olympic maths helps youget a place in good schools.Sunday is also a busy day.I have two classes in the morning.One is an extra English class.Everybody have the pieceof paper, right?Ready? Go.

CHILDREN READ ALOUD:This is a pod and the peas are inside it.I think that learning English isreally importantbecause with this one language,you can communicate with everyone.I like the peas from your garden,he says.The boys open some of the pods.They stay in the garden eating peas.One day I hope I can go to England.I'd love to see Big Ben.

TEACHER:Does Spot like James' peas? Zhe Wen, can you answer?Yes, he does. Of course he likesJames' garden's peas,and he likes peas out of the pod.Very good. OK.Because Mummy said…On Sunday, I also havea calligraphy class.The teacher spends a lot of timeshowing us the best techniques.My teacher is very kind and patient.He teaches us that part ofcalligraphy is also about patience.It's very important in our culture,and we all learn it at school.We use black ink and a paintbrush.And we silently practiseour own characters.Today we're practising calligraphycharacters for the Spring Festival.I think calligraphy is a kindof art, like drawing or painting.This is my name.