Organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) of the HKSAR Government and co-organised by the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme of Lingnan University, the Mainland Study Tour and Training Programme of the “Wisdom of History, Legacy of Knowledge: Professional Development Programme for Junior Secondary Chinese History for non-History Major Teachers” was officially launched today (5 June) at the EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre. The launch ceremony, entitled “Exploring Guangzhou: Chinese History Teachers Study Tour – Launch Ceremony and Briefing Session”, announced the launch of the inaugural study tour on 13–14 June, with 80 local secondary school teachers participating. The event was officiated by Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education, and featured a keynote lecture by Prof Ma Min, Director of the Institute of Modern Chinese History of Central China Normal University. Prof Ma shared insights with participating teachers on how to promote patriotic education through Chinese history.

As part of the “Wisdom of History” programme, the Guangzhou study tour offers a two-day, one-night cultural and historical field experience through site visits, cultural experiential activities, and academic lectures by experts from the Mainland. The tour aims to help teachers explore historical and cultural relics in various periods and deepen their understanding of rich history and heritage of our country. The programme supports junior secondary Chinese History teachers who do not hold a history major by enhancing their professional knowledge and teaching capacity, thereby enhancing learning and teaching effectiveness of the subject and fostering students’ national identity.

Dr Choi Yuk-lin expressed gratitude to Lingnan University for leveraging its academic strengths to support the implementation of this meaningful initiative. She said, “The ‘Wisdom of History’ Programme offers diverse modules, including curriculum interpretation, knowledge enhancement, teaching strategies, museum-based inquiry learning, and field studies. The content closely aligns with the latest developments in history education and integrates cutting-edge approaches, such as patriotic education, digital application in humanities, immersive cultural experiences, and gamified learning design for museum visit. This initiative not only echoes the education policies set out in the Policy Address, but also embodies the principles of integrating learning inside and outside the classroom, and combining innovation with practicality. It empowers teachers to translate what they learn into teaching practice, passing on the wisdom of history to their students.”

Prof Lau Chi-pang, Associate Vice-President (Institutional Advancement and External Affairs), Director of the Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs, and Coordinator of the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme at Lingnan University, noted that Lingnan’s Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in History was the most selected Band A choice among JUPAS applicants for the 2025/26 academic year, reflecting young people's strong interest in history.

He said, “Chinese history education plays a vital role in shaping national identity among Hong Kong students. We are honoured to organise the Mainland study tour component of the ‘Wisdom of History’ programme. With our years of experience in coordinating Mainland study tours, we aim to support teachers in strengthening their subject knowledge through real-world learning. We believe that experiential learning enables teachers to connect curriculum content with historical sites and artefacts, allowing them to transform historical knowledge into inspiring teaching materials that help cultivate students’ historical perspective and national consciousness.”

Prof Ma Min remarked, “I am honoured to take part in this teacher training initiative. By aligning closely with curriculum guidelines and foundational learning requirements, we can delve deeply into historical materials to help students appreciate the richness and continuity of Chinese civilization, thereby fostering patriotic sentiment. At the same time, Hong Kong’s own historical figures and events offer valuable case studies that bring warmth and depth to history teaching. With the advancement of generative AI and other digital technologies, we can further enhance the interactivity and creativity of history education. Looking ahead, I hope to collaborate closely with history educators in Hong Kong to jointly develop a shared repository of teaching cases and make better use of venue resources across regions, enabling richer and more diverse learning experiences for students.”

Ms Vera Ho Si-wing, a teacher representative from Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School, shared, “I look forward to discovering more artefact-based teaching materials, in particular exploring how these cultural treasures could be transformed into concrete examples to cultivate students’ cultural confidence and patriotic spirit. This will help patriotic education to be naturally integrated into historical narratives.”

The  “Wisdom of History” Programme comprises 30 hours of professional training. The Guangzhou study tour, organised by the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme of Lingnan University, is a compulsory component totalling 18 hours. The local modules, organised by the Department of History of Hong Kong Baptist University, consist of compulsory training on curriculum interpretation and museum visits or field studies, and two electives in knowledge enhancement or teaching strategies, amounting to 12 hours in total.

About “Exploring Guangzhou: Chinese History Teachers Study Tour

Designed in alignment with the junior secondary Chinese history curriculum, the Guangzhou study tour includes three thematic routes:

1. Prehistoric to Tang Dynasty (for Secondary 1)

2. Song to Qing Dynasties (for Secondary 2)

3. Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China (for Secondary 3)

Through on-site visits, cultural immersion, and lectures, the study tour aims to enhance teachers’ understanding of historical relics from different periods. The experience also encourages appreciation and preservation of China’s historical and cultural heritage, while inspiring teachers to draw from this rich legacy to promote patriotic education.