University College of Bahrain provided a practical learning experience for the Graphic Design students thereby organizing an educational trip to China. Led by the faculty of Graphic Design, Ms. Lillian Hallak and Ms. Haifa Yaseen, eight Graphic Design final year students visited China to learn more about its unique history, culture and many educational resources on October 13, 2013.

The purpose of the trip was to help the students learn more about China from a historical, cultural and social perspective. The students traveled to China to get a first-hand experience of Chinese dynamic transformation in the spheres of history and culture. Moreover, it was not as simply as a tour, the trip was well designed as a field studying course with specific lectures given by the instructors.

The China trip was inevitably a unique experience for the UCB Graphic Design team. The team had a wonderful opportunity to experience China’s rich history and culture. In addition to the friendliness of the country, students acquired knowledge about the progress China has been making on the Graphic design field. It was encouraging to see a country that is developing so quickly by maintaining a fair balance between its culture and science.

The one week long visit covered the cities of Shanghai and Beijing and Hong Kong, which includes National Art Museum of China, Beijing, Jingshan Park, Forbidden City, Dashilar, The Great Wall, 798 Art District, Wangfujing Street, Temple of Heaven, Capital Museum, Shanghai, The bund, Liuli China Museum, Power Station of Art, HongKong and many other sites. The most significant outcome of the trip was that the Graphic Design Students could take part in a workshop on Wood block printing. Woodblock printing is a technique used in printing text, images and patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China as a method of printing on textiles, and later, paper.

“The China visit was a wonderful experience enriched with historic and cultural elements. Moreover, it was amazing to learn the historic and artistic diversity of the country”, commented Ms. Lillian Hallak, Senior Lecturer, Graphic Design Concentration, UCB".