A CI VUW primary and secondary schools Principals’ Delegation arrived in Beijing on April 10^th and returned to New Zealand on April 21^st. It was a successful twelve-day visit to Beijing and Xiamen. This is the third Principals’ Delegation to China since 2014, organized by the Confucius Institute at VUW.

There were nine Principals and Deputy Principals in the group, seven from Gisborne and one each from Rotorua and Tokoroa. This is the first time that any of them had visited China. As the organisers of the project, the Confucius Institute and Xiamen University arranged a programme of visits to educational institutions, schools and historical and cultural destinations in Beijing and Xiamen.

During their stay in Beijing, the Principals visited Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, the Western Academy of Beijing, Beijing Jingshan School Yuanyang Branch, Beijing No.13 Middle Schools and others. In Xiamen, they visited Xiamen University, Xiamen Municipal Education Bureau, Xiamen No.1 Middle School, Xiamen Science and Technology Secondary School, Xiamen Yanwu Primary School and other institutions and schools. In addition, the Principals saw the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Beijing City's planning exhibition, as well as the Fujian Hakka earth building cultural community, Xiamen Gulangyu and other places of historic interest and scenic beauty.

During the visit the Principals observed classroom teaching and students' extracurricular activities in their associations and interest groups. They met Chinese education officials, principals, teachers and students, which gave the delegation an understanding of education in China, especially in Beijing and Xiamen, and Chinese history and culture. The Principals said that their trip to China was an unforgettable and rewarding experience that deepened their understanding of China. On returning home they would share their China experience with teachers and students of their schools, and they hoped that Kiwi students would have more opportunities in the future for mutual exchange and study.

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