Viewpoint

Bastian Klock (Year 9, More House):

On the Riverview China tour I learnt many things about the culture and history of China. Not only this, but the China tour helped me to improve my speaking and confidence. On the China tour we went from Shanghai to Beijing, stopping in cities like Xi'an and Huang Shan (Yellow Mountain). During the trip we saw amazing places such as the Great Wall of China in Beijing and Yellow Mountain. What impressed me most was the dedication the College took to make sure our trip was worthwhile. Not only did they book the best tour guide, but they made sure that we got the most out of every place that we stayed. We would never just go to one place to see one thing. We would go there to embrace ourselves in the localism and spend time in the places tourists overlook. Another very impressive feature of the tour is the dedication that the school affiliated with BIT, our sister school in Beijing, took to tour us around Beijing, and our buddies knew everything about their home city, including the best restaurants.

Gianluca Di Pietro (Year 9, Teresa House):

Our recent China tour was an amazing experience filled with breathtaking scenery, deep cultural encounters, and incredible cuisine. We were amazed by Shanghai's futuristic skyline and the Yellow Mountain's stunning landscapes, while the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an uncovered the amazing ancient craftsmanship. The Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing allowed us to gain insight into China's history and heritage. One of the highlights of the tour was the trip to our sister school, where we met local students and experienced their school lives. And to top it all off we ate a whole variety of authentic dishes, ranging from Peking duck to handmade dumplings, making this trip not only informational but also truly unforgettable.

Nick Wong (Year 11, Fernando House)

During the China tour, we had the unique opportunity to further our Chinese studies by engaging with the culture and the people using the language we learnt in class. We went to the Huang Shan, which translates to the "Yellow Mountain".  Despite the cold and the gushing wind, the beautiful sunrise, the unique pine trees, the great canyons, and the rigid peaks amazed us all. One of the unique features of Huang Shang was the rocks that were shaped throughout thousands and thousands of years, which were often named creatively after what the wise ancient Chinese people believed that they looked like.

In Beijing, the capital city of China, we had the opportunity to see various ancient buildings from the Qing dynasty and learn about the history of China. On one of our days there, we engage with the locals and their culture through dining in a traditional “四合院” house with a local family and playing traditional games such as kicking the shuttlecock (which the boys really enjoyed and quickly grasped). We also had the opportunity to enjoy a day out with students from a local high school and spend a day in their school, experiencing their school life and exchanging our stories and knowledge of English and Chinese.

Ben Case (Year 9, Campion House)

Over the past 2 weeks the Riverview Chinese group travelled all over China, going through Shanghai, Yellow-Mountain, Xi’an and Beijing. Overall, all 4 cities were unique and impressive. The first thing that impressed me in Xi’an is that there is a massive city wall surrounding the inner city of Xi’an that is 14km long and 12m tall, which you can also bike ride on top of the wall. Also, we visited the terracotta warriors and there are 8000 clay warriors all in a massive hall just for the emperor. To get to Beijing we caught the fast train which travels at up to 350km/h and got us to Beijing in 4 ½ hours. In Beijing we spent a day with the local students and the following day we went to school with them. After spending this time with them it became clear how different their schooling is compared to Riverview, having longer school hours and different food but also only wearing sports uniform and staying back at school until night. The length of the Great Wall and also the amount of temples/palaces honouring gods and emperors also impressed me. Overall, I think that the trip was a very good experience for students studying Chinese to learn more about the culture and I highly recommend it for future students.

Alistair Leung (Year 11, Dalton House)

During my time in China, the part that stood out to me the most was China’s rich culture. In Shanghai, we visited the Shanghai Museum as an introduction to Chinese culture, learning about its ancient history, ancient artifacts, and how they are all holistically connected, also showing how they used to live out in nature. We also visited the Yu Garden, immersing ourselves in all the elements of nature, consisting of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. After that, we went sightseeing across the city at the Bund and Shanghai Centre Tower to view the city. We were able to see the contrast between the old and new parts of Shanghai. On our last day in Shanghai, we went out for a fun day at Shanghai Disneyland. After our visit to Shanghai, we moved on to the Yellow Mountains, where we hiked up around the steep and rocky terrain. We stayed there for one night to see the beautiful sunrise as it lit up the mountains. After seeing the stunning scenery of the mountains, I realised how intricate China’s ancient calligraphy was and how connected nature was to Chinese culture. Every day, we enjoyed authentic and traditional meals, presenting us with a taste of their home. Overall, I found this experience very fulfilling, as I immersed myself in China’s culture, improved my Chinese skills, and gained a better understanding of China’s history and beauty.

Henry Martin (Year 11, Gonzaga House)

During our trip to China, we traversed the country visiting many interesting cities including the major cities of Beijing (the Chinese capital), Xi’an and Shanghai. Throughout the tour we visited a vast array of interesting tourist sites but were also exposed to local culture at each destination experiencing what day to day life entails in these fascinating locations. Time was allowed to explore the markets allowing us to converse with the locals thus honing our Mandarin (and bargaining) skills!

Picking a favourite site from all those we experienced is a difficult task but one special place that stood out amongst the rest for me was ‘Huang Shan’, otherwise known as ‘Yellow Mountain’. The Yellow Mountain was given its name to honour the Yellow Emperor. As a group, we spent two days at Yellow Mountain. The first day was spent exploring Yellow Mountain city and its surrounding area. Following this we ascended the mountain via cable car and stayed the night on top of the mountain. Next morning, we rose at 5am to experiencing a mesmerising sunrise followed by a day of exploring the mountain itself. The Yellow Mountain is incomparable to any other place on Earth, with its unique geography, history, and spectacular scenery. It is truly a place worth visiting to create unforgettable memories.

Riverview Careers Expo: Monday 19 May, The Gartlan Centre, 4.00-6.00pm

Another great opportunity for students to explore their post-school study and career pathways is at the Riverview Careers Expo - occurring this Monday 19 May at the Gartlan Centre 4.00-6.00pm. With over 60 representatives from a range of organisations, students from Years 10, 11 and 12 will have the chance to explore different jobs, hear from tertiary institutions and industry professionals and learn about the skills and qualifications needed for their chosen paths. Whether you are a student who knows what you want to do or are still figuring it out, the Careers Expo offers insights and inspiration to guide your journey. You can ask questions, network, and even discover opportunities you had not yet considered before. Don’t miss this chance to take a proactive step toward your future. Attend the Riverview Careers Expo and start building the career you’ve always dreamed of—your future starts here!

University Open Days

We encourage all students to make the most of the upcoming Open Days. You can access all the information in the SWG Open Day Guide on the InsideView Careers Portal .