Under the invitation of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, Hong Kong Diocese Group Visited TBC on September 18th. The visit, spanning five days, was marked by a series of exchange activities in Beijing. As the only member institution of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) in mainland China, TBC extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.
Conference with the State Bureau of Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China
During this visit, the diocese group engaged in in-depth and extensive exchanges with the State Bureau of Religious Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China, discussing development and promotional strategies for the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Subsequently, they toured the Zhalan Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of Western missionaries. These missionaries, while unheralded, played pivotal roles in fostering cultural exchange between China and the West.
Visiting delegation Fr. Xu Liren (left) and TBC Executive Director Simon Koo visit the tomb of Matteo Ricci
At TBC, the diocese group toured the institution’s academic and administrative facilities, marveling at its diverse collections. Renowned scholars, including TBC Professor Leopold Leeb from Renmin University of China and TBC Executive Director Simon Koo, delivered lectures on various topics, engaging the delegation in discussions on sino-foreign cultural exchanges.
Visit TBC’s Anton Library
Lecture delivered by TBC Visiting Professor Lei Libai
Moreover, they also visited two prestigious universities, Peking University and Renmin University of China. At Peking University, they explored the university’s historical museum to gain insights into its rich history. Professors Xu Fenglin and Cheng Lesong from the philosophy department delivered lectures on topics such as “The Academic Perspective of Modern China: Centering on Jesuit Dialogue,” “The Diverse Perspectives of Religion in Sinicization,” and “The Beliefs and Spiritual World of the Chinese People,” respectively, offering fresh insights into promoting cultural exchanges between China and the world. Likewise, at Renmin University of China, they explored the school’s museum and engaged in insightful discussions with philosophy professors.
Lecture at Peking University
Lecture at Renmin University of China
In addition, they embarked on sightseeing tours to prominent landmarks such as the Church of the Saviour, St. Joseph’s Church, Beijing Ancient Observatory, Five Pagoda Temple, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City.
Visit museum
Through these diverse experiences, the diocese group immersed themselves in China’s rich cultural tapestry, witnessing the confluence of civilizations between China and the world. The visit not only strengthened ties between TBC and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong but also fostered greater mainland-Hong Kong cooperation, laying a robust foundation for future collaboration.
Group photo in front of the Forbidden city
Translated by Fiona
The past few weekends have been some of the most exciting of the entire semester, full of trips to the zoo, mountain hikes, ancient parks, and more! Our first trip out of many was a visit to the Beijing Zoo. I had mentioned earlier in the semester that I wanted to see some pandas, since I was in China after all, and our TBC friend Andy made it happen.
Spending a whole semester in Beijing, I knew I had to make the trip down south and check out Shanghai, and the city certainly lived up to the expectations. Everyone describes Shanghai as this super futuristic metropolis, and after spending a weekend there I understand why it has this reputation.