Songjiang University Town tours attractive to hundreds of students
20/10/2005 11:00
Shanghai Daily news
Hundreds of people have shown interest in attending a one-day tour of
suburban Songjiang University Town since the city's first university-themed tour
program was launched last week. More than 100 people from the city and
neighboring provinces have called to ask about the tours to date. The tours are
being sponsored by Shanghai International Studies University. Most of the
inquirers were from high school teachers who want to organize a trip for
students or parents whose children wish to pay a visit to the universities they
plan to apply to next year. To date, nearly 50 people have signed up for the
first tour group on October 29, according to SISU's tour organizing
office. "We are quite surprised but glad to see the program receive such a
warm welcome by students," said Miao Xun, an SISU official, adding that many
visitors in the past complained there were no organized tours of the town and
its many campuses. Songjiang University Town, which is about 30 kilometers
away from downtown Shanghai, is home to more than 50,000 students on seven
campuses - including SISU, Donghua University, East China University of Politics
and Law and Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade. Those taking part in the
excursion will get a guided tour of all seven campuses. Students and professors
from SISU will tell their experiences of learning a foreign
language. Visitors will also be treated to a Western-style luncheon at SISU's
campus canteen, organizers said. The one-day tour, which will be held
regularly on Saturdays, costs 75 yuan (US$9) - a charge that some people think
is unfair. Zhou Fei, a third-year high school student, said that universities
are public resources that should be open free to visitors. Zhou said campus
visits shouldn't turn into a profitable business.
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