Pingtung school gets Hakka-style makeover

2014-09-15

Chang Shing Primary School in Pingtung County inaugurated a new entrance Sept. 10 that was given a lavish makeover inspired by the county’s Hakka heritage.

“We want to highlight Pingtung’s culture and history for our students, as well as the local community,” CSPS Principal Chiu Kun-yu said. “It is important that students learn to honor Hakka traditions.”

According to Chiu, the centerpiece of the NT$17 million (US$560,000) renovation project is a 380-meter entry path featuring the word “Hakka” in giant block capitals.

Other Hakka icons include a light-emitting diode, or LED, lamp in the form of a traditional temple roof and a sculpture of a traditional blue Hakka tunic. The school’s front wall was also rebuilt.

The new entry was already a hit with tourists even before the pupils got to use it. The path has attracted visitors from all over Taiwan posing for photos in front of the school, Chiu said. Two figurines are a favorite with couples wanting to take wedding photos, he added.

Students also praised the new pathway for boosting safety. “I find it much safer and more convenient to enter school now. I no longer need to avoid the cars and motorcycles rushing by,” sixth-grader Teng Yu-ting said.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=221536&CtNode=413)