Introduction
I first learned about the Nanjing (南京) immersion programme by Xingzhi Wenjiao (行知文教中心) in 2023 through an email. The programme featured a 9-day trip to Nanjing, including four days of attending classes in a local school (Xingzhi School 行知学校), learning side by side with local students in a real classroom setting. The programme accepts children from pre-school to secondary school.
The programme immediately caught my interest, but with everything going on in life at the time, it just wasn’t possible. When the email came again in 2024, it was out of the question due to PSLE and other challenges we were facing. So when I received the email once more at the end of last year, I quickly discussed it with my husband and daughter. This time, we were all ready to say yes.
We haven’t had the chance to travel much in recent years for various reasons. My daughter had once told me that if she ever got to go overseas, she’d rather experience how locals live than visit typical tourist attractions. That conversation came to mind the moment I saw the immersion programme, and I felt this would be a meaningful fit for her.
The trip was originally planned for nine days, but due to a change in flight schedules, Mr. Tan, the organiser, kindly offered the option to arrive a day earlier with a more comfortable flight timing. He even arranged an extra day tour, coincidentally covering places that I was interested in (but were not in the original 9-day itinerary) after browsing about Nanjing on Xiaohongshu (小红书).
None of us in the family had ever been to China before, and being anxious by nature, I spent months worrying about what a 10-day trip to a new country might be like. But after just one day there, it became clear my worries were unnecessary. We were in good hands.
Mr. Tan Koon Poh 陈君宝, the organiser, is a long-time advocate of reading and Chinese language education in Singapore, and also the founder of Sprout 耕读园 and Xingzhi Wenjiao 行知文教中心. For over 20 years, he has been promoting Chinese reading culture through community initiatives, school collaborations, organizing China immersion programmes for students and teachers, and is widely respected for his contributions.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Tan and his wife, Jenny, were always present with the group, sharing their experiences, doing headcounts, watching out for traffic as we alight from the bus, and making sure we were all safe.
The trip was from 6 June 2025 to 15 June 2025
(1) At Changi Airport, waiting for our flight.
(2) Our plane landing in Nanjing, and was treated with the rainbow light on plane!
(2) Our plane landing in Nanjing, and was treated with the rainbow light on plane!
(3) After over 5 hours, we arrived at Nanjing Lukou International Airport.
(4) Saying goodbye to our plane.
(5) My first glimpse of the Yangtze River (长江)
The hotel
(1) I'm quite particular when it comes to hotel cleanliness. I looked up reviews beforehand and was relieved to see the hotel had a rating of around 4.8 to 4.9. But of course, nothing beats seeing it in person. So when I stepped into the hotel room, I was genuinely relieved to find it clean, especially the bathroom. The bed and pillows were comfortable. The hotel also offered a selection of pillows at the reception area, allowing guests to choose one that best suited their preferences. The hotel has a laundry room and a breakfast room for guests’ convenience.
Since we had three people sharing a room, the hotel provided a floor mattress (地垫) for the third person. There was also the option to choose between two separate single beds or one king-sized bed. These were co-ordinated by Mr. Tan in advance before our trip. The room was very spacious. We were able to open up all our luggage and still had plenty of room to move around comfortably.
Just a note that the room did not have a wardrobe or a fridge.
(2) The hotel also had an adorable robot that delivered items to the rooms. We had fun sharing the lift with it and even followed it around just for laughs.
(3) The street the hotel was on had plenty of shops. Right next door was a bakery, where we picked up an irresistibly cute panda cheesecake for supper. Mr. Tan also recommended the 杨枝甘露 (mango pomelo sago) from the CoCo bubble tea shop next to the hotel, and it turned out to be really delicious!
There was a supermarket just a 5-minute walk down the street, and directly opposite the hotel were a KFC and a Mixue outlet as well.
The journey from the airport to the hotel took about 45 minutes. The hotel provides complimentary bottled mineral water upon request, with both room temperature and chilled options available. They also replenish the bottles in the room after each housekeeping service.
Who is Tao Xingzhi 陶行知?
Before I dive into the details of the trip, let me first introduce the remarkable figure after whom the school we visited is named: Tao Xingzhi. I hadn’t heard of him until I began reading up in preparation for this trip, and what I discovered was truly inspiring.
Tao Xingzhi (1891-1946) was a renowned Chinese educator and reformer whose philosophy continues to shape education in China today. He believed deeply that “生活即教育，社会即学校，教学做合一” - that life itself is education, society is the classroom, and teaching, learning, and doing are one. Guided by this belief, he gave up prestigious opportunities and devoted his life to bringing education to rural communities, training teachers, and promoting practical, people-centered learning. He emphasized moral integrity and the pursuit of truth, famously stating “千教万教教人求真，千学万学学做真人” - of all teachings, teach people to seek truth; of all learning, learn to be a true, upright person. His legacy of selfless service is captured in his words: “捧着一颗心来，不带半根草去”, meaning “I come with a heart full of dedication and will not take even a blade of grass when I leave.” He also believed that knowledge and action were inseparable: “行是知之始，知是行之成” - action is the beginning of knowledge, and knowledge is completed through action. His vision continues to inspire educators to see teaching not just as a profession, but as a mission to uplift lives and communities.
On the last day of our trip, we visited the Shi De Jiao Yu Guan (师德教育馆), the first museum in China dedicated to teacher ethics, built in honor of Tao Xingzhi. We had the meaningful opportunity to lay flowers at his statue as a gesture of respect (thoughtfully prepared by Xingzhi School's Principal Mr. Yang), and also visited Tao Xingzhi's grave, which is a short walk from the museum.
SCHOOL
Xingzhi School 行知学校
During the trip, the children spent four days attending classes at Xingzhi School (行知学校), which is named after Tao Xingzhi. The school comprises a kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school, and is located just a 7-minute ride from our hotel. I love their school motto 还能更精彩.
(1) “爱满天下”, which means "Love fills the world", is the core spirit of Tao Xingzhi's educational philosophy
(2) Xingzhi Primary School building 南京市浦口区行知小学
(3) Xingzhi Secondary School building 南京市浦口区行知中学
(4) Tao Xingzhi's famous quote “捧着一颗心来，不带半根草去” on the wall
(5) The entrance to the secondary one classrooms. I like how it's labelled 奋斗门 (“Gate of Diligence/Perseverance”)
Mr. Yang Rui Qing 杨瑞清, Xingzhi School Principal
Inspired by Tao Xingzhi (the founder of the school he graduated from), Mr. Yang joined a small village school at the age of 18 upon graduation and has remained there for the past 44 years.
At the time, the school had a different name and lacked even basic facilities like proper tables and chairs for students. Over the decades, Mr. Yang dedicated himself to transforming it into a full-fledged institution that now includes kindergarten, primary, and secondary levels. The school is equipped with a full-sized running track, an indoor sports hall, a tea plantation, a pottery classroom and kiln, museums, hostel, and more! Every classroom features a large touch-screen TV to enhance teaching and learning. The TV is built into the wall behind sliding chalkboards and can be hidden away behind the board when not in use.
One moment that deeply moved me was when a teacher shared that the rows of trees on campus were originally planted by Mr. Yang, with the hope that they could one day be used to make desks and chairs for the students. Today, those trees have grown into a peaceful playground, a picturesque photo spot, and also serve as a meaningful metaphor: planted at the same time, yet growing at different rates and forming trunks of various thicknesses, gently reminding us that every child grows in their own unique way.
Mr. Yang kindly held a session with the parents, where he shared about the school, the legacy of Tao Xingzhi, and his own personal beliefs on education and parenting. It was an insightful and meaningful session, with many valuable takeaways for us to reflect on. Much of what he shared resonated deeply, but one particular point stood out for me:
“我建议，你选择。你选择，你承担。你承担，我陪伴。”
(I give advice, you make the choice. You choose, you take responsibility. You take responsibility, I walk with you.)
I’ve been applying similar approach myself, and Mr. Yang expressed it so beautifully in just 18 words.
The Environment
(1) I love how the school is surrounded by lush greenery. Dandelions and daisies grow freely on the grass patches in front of the school.
(2) A row of ginkgo biloba trees lining the road to the school building immediately caught my attention.
(3) Cats roaming the school compound, cared for and fed with food scraps by the kitchen staff. Such a heartwarming sight!
We also spotted adorable birds flying and hopping around the school grounds, adding even more life and charm to the environment!
The Assemblies
Unlike in Singapore, students here hold their assembly and flag-raising ceremony once a week, on Monday mornings. Due to wet weather, the primary school students had to conduct their ceremony in their classrooms, so we unfortunately missed the chance to witness a full assembly. However, the students assigned to lead the flag-raising still carried out their duties with pride.
(1) Primary school students conducting the flag-raising ceremony. They did it with such pride and confidence. There was a student emcee giving the introduction, and each of the two students raising the flag gave a short speech, proudly introducing themselves and expressing their honor to perform this role.
(2) After the primary school ceremony, we walked over to the secondary school section and managed to catch the tail end of their assembly as it concluded.
(3) The students jogged back to their classrooms, waves of them running past us. It was quite a sight, and we parents were all busy trying to spot our children in the crowd.
The highlight of the trip: attending the classes
(1) My daughter settling into her classroom, getting ready for her first day of lessons.
My daughter was assigned to Secondary One class (class 7-4). Over the four mornings spent with the class, she had the opportunity to attend Geography, Mathematics, English, Chinese, PE, and what seemed to be their version of CCE.
Her classmates were friendly, curious and vocal.
(2) They have an interesting routine called “跑操”, a synchronized jogging session held between lessons, once a week. The entire level heads to the track to jog together in unison for 800m (2 rounds around track) before going back to their classrooms for the next lesson.
(3) Each class is assigned a small plot of land to grow plants or vegetables, and the students genuinely put effort into caring for them.
(4) Although students weren't allowed to talk during lessons, that didn’t stop them from chatting with my daughter. They passed her little handwritten notes on slips of paper, many left their WeChat id to stay in contact. By the end of four days, she had a whole collection! These sweet messages are now treasured keepsakes. One of her new friends even invited her to play soccer at the park on Saturday, which she unfortunately could not join due to our schedule.
(5) We were asked to prepare three small gifts for our children to give to their new friends. We chose items that represent Singaporean lifestyle/childhood - Milo sachets, Mamee noodles, salted egg fish skin and salted egg potato chips, and a touristy Singapore magnet. We also included a short letter explaining how to enjoy the snacks and pointing out the landmarks shown on the magnet. If given another chance, I would love to prepare more for the rest of the classmates.
Her classmate immediately tried making the milo by pouring into his water bottle. He said Milo felt like it was chocolate ground into powder, and asked if it will turn into chocolate if he puts it into the fridge. How creative!
We also learned that the students don’t have recess time like we do. Instead, they get a 10-minute break between each period. In the primary school, the children would dash out of their classrooms to play. When it happened, it felt like a flash mob. They all ran out at once, and when the break was over, they ran straight back to class just as quickly. For secondary school students, most of them chose to stay in their classrooms during breaks to chat or play.
As for the kindergarten, we didn’t get the chance to tour the compound, but a teacher shared that it’s not academically focused. Instead, the emphasis is on play and exploration, and learning through play. They even have live animals for the children to interact with! The teacher also mentioned that secondary school tends to be the most “boring” stage, as it becomes more academically driven in preparation for exams.
The school is a secure compound with security guards stationed at the entrance. On the third day, which was a scheduled free-and-easy morning for parents, many of us with older kids decided to let the kids take our bus to school on their own. My daughter felt comfortable enough to go without us, so Daddy and I took a DiDi to a nearby mall for some shopping.
Our children joined the classes from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. At noon, the students have their lunch break, and lunch is provided by the school, delivered directly to their classrooms. Unlike in Singapore, they do not have a canteen that sells food.
While the students have their lunch, our children join us for lunch at a separate canteen in the school.
Parent-Child Activities
After lunch, if we arrived early, the children would borrow sports equipment at the rest area to play (table tennis, badminton, chapteh, Chinese yoyo) before the parent-child activities began. We had 2 activities each afternoon, 1.5 hours for each activity.
(1) Paper Quilling
(2) Paper Cutting
(3) Pottery
(4) Calligraphy
(5) Tea culture
(6) Stamp carving
(7) Mask painting
I’ve always wanted to try pottery, calligraphy, and stamp carving, so I was really looking forward to these activities! When I was younger, I was also curious about tea culture. It’s such a joy to finally learn the things you’ve always been interested in. Through these hands-on experiences, I realised that most of them require a great deal of patience. They’re wonderful activities for cultivating patience, especially meaningful for children growing up in today’s fast-paced world.
And kudos to the daddy, who doesn’t usually do (or even enjoy) craft work, for fully participating in these activities as a family. He stayed focused throughout each three-hour session over the four days, and I truly appreciate the effort he put in. It meant a lot!
FOOD
Hotel Food
Breakfast was provided by the hotel, served in a small dining room with a mix of Chinese and Western options. While the selection was fairly simple, it was tasty and satisfying enough to keep us going there for 8 days. We only went out for KFC breakfast once, on a day when our schedule started later.
The hotel offered some variety from day to day, but a few staples were always available: fried rice, porridge, dumplings, beancurd, fried eggs, sausages, cereal, toast bread, small cakes for dessert, and cut fruits. You could also order freshly prepared noodles and wontons from the kitchen, something Mr. Tan introduced to us, and I found really delicious.
In general, I found the food in Nanjing to be oilier than what we're used to in Singapore. So each morning, I made it a habit to order a bowl of soupy noodles and a bowl of wontons to start the day. I’d add a few other side dishes if I had room, and usually ended with a bowl of beancurd. The beancurd was especially enjoyable. You could customise it with soy sauce, chili, and other condiments. I liked mine with soy sauce, coriander, tiny prawns, and chopped peanuts. My daughter had a great time creating her own version too!
(1) Noodle
(2) Wonton
(3) Beancurd
School Food
We had four lunches provided by the school during our time there, in a spacious canteen, with a different menu each day. The food was tasty and not too different from what we’re used to back home, which made it easy for both adults and kids to enjoy. Each meal included rice, meat, vegetables, and soup, all served buffet-style. After collecting our food, we sat together at large round tables to enjoy the meal and chat with other families before heading off to our afternoon activities.
Restaurant Food
(1,2) We had two group dinners together at a restaurant about a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Once on the first evening after we arrived, and again on the evening of our last school day. The food was absolutely delicious, and I finally got the chance to try 小龙虾, which I had only seen online before. The roasted duck was especially memorable. It was incredibly good!
(3) On the days we were out on excursions, lunch was arranged at various Chinese restaurants near the places we visited, with round tables for group dining. I didn’t keep track of how many dishes there were, but there was always more than enough. As soon as we arrived, the food was ready to be served. The meals were well thought out, delicious, suitable for both adults and children, and enough to leave us all with happy, full tummies before heading to the next destination.
(4) Another memorable lunch was at a local farmer’s house, where tables were set up in the living room. The food was served in generous portions, everything was delicious, and I especially miss the prawns!
Local Food
(1) We had some free-and-easy time to explore and have lunch at the 1912 District (1912街区), and decided to try some local specialties at a restaurant called 金陵汤包. We ordered soup dumplings (汤包), salted duck (盐水鸭) (a Nanjing specialty) and roast duck (烤鸭). Although salted duck is what Nanjing is famous for, we actually preferred the roast duck!
(2) The daddy decided to try out 梅花糕 after lunch at 1912 District.
(3) We had another free-and-easy evening at the Fuzimiao (夫子庙) area for dinner, and ended up eating at a place that resembled a small food court called 金陵美食荟. A poster on the wall featuring taro mochi (芋泥麻薯) and jasmine rice cake (茉莉花方糕) caught my eye, so I decided to give them a try. Of course, we couldn't resist having more soup dumplings. We also ordered roast duck, it was so good that we finished it before I even realised I forgot to take a photo!
Others
Most of the dinners were free-and-easy, and my family had fun exploring familiar brands and making comparisons. We visited Haidilao, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, KFC, and Saizeriya, trying both the usual items we’d order back home and dishes that aren’t available in Singapore. We had fun playing spot the differences!
PLACES
(1) We had the chance to visit a farm, where we got to experience fruit picking. The available fruits included cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons. We didn’t pick any melons as they were quite big and heavy, but some other families did. My daughter had a lot of fun carefully choosing cucumbers and tomatoes to bring home.
(2) While the children were in school, we parents had the opportunity to visit a local market, and it was quite an interesting sight. Some vendors had set up stalls along the street, creating a lively, traditional feel. Nearby, there was a proper air-conditioned market offering a more modern marketing experience.
Apart from Mr. Tan and Jenny, we were also accompanied on most of our outings by Zheng Laoshi (郑老师) from Xingzhi School. When the Yangtze River (长江) came into view, he took the opportunity to introduce the river’s significance and taught the children the Chinese poem 《黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵》, in which the Yangtze River is mentioned. What a beautiful sight it was to see the children reciting the poem with the actual river as their backdrop!
(1) Nanjing Eye (南京眼), a beautiful pedestrian bridge constructed for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games.
(2) The smart track on Singapore–Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island - It was heartwarming to see a connection to home, even while we were far away.
(3) While looking out over the Yangtze River, Zheng Laoshi also pointed out the direction where Li Bai (李白), the poet who wrote 《黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵》, is said to be buried.
Historical & Cultural Sites
For all the museums and sites, we were also additionally accompanied by Dong Laoshi (董老师), who served as our guide and shared with us the history and significance behind the exhibits and locations. There was so much to learn, and I was truly amazed by how knowledgeable and insightful Dong Laoshi was.
We went to quite a few of museums 江宁织造博物馆, 南京城墙博物馆，六朝博物馆，南京中国科举博物馆 and we also visited these sites:
(1) 总统府
(2) 中华门
(3) 中山陵
(3) 中山陵
(4) 阅江楼
Just a note for parents, children might find some of these visits tiring or overwhelming, as there’s a lot of walking and the explanations are all delivered in Mandarin. It can feel like information overload, especially for younger ones who may not fully understand everything. The key is to keep encouraging them to stay engaged, keep moving, and be respectful. As Dong Laoshi wisely shared, “You don’t have to understand right now. It might just be a seed planted. One day, something you encounter may connect the dots, and that moment of understanding will come.”
SHOPPING
The Malls
(1) We visited three malls during our trip. 砂之船, 雨山天街 and 虹悦城. All of them were spacious, clean, and well-maintained. They were mostly not crowded, likely because we tended to have early dinners. We later realised, during one of our free-and-easy evenings when we stayed out a bit later, that the crowd starts to pick up around 7:30 p.m.
(2) We stumbled upon a cat café nearby the mall 雨山天街, which felt like a lucky find! Before the trip, I had been wondering if we’d get the chance to visit one (it’s a little family hobby of ours), and to our surprise, we found one without even searching. In the end, we didn’t go in as we spent most of our time shopping and eating, and simply ran out of time.
(3) I kept noticing blue whales around Nanjing and was curious about their meaning. So I consulted my best friend (ChatGPT), and it turns out, it’s actually a clever wordplay. Blue whale in Chinese is "lan jing" (蓝鲸), which sounds very similar to Nanjing. This playful homophone has led to the blue whale being embraced as an unofficial symbol of the city.
The Bookstores
We visited two bookstores during the trip, and the book prices were really attractive! I honestly wished we could buy more. But since books are heavy, we had to shop wisely and choose with caution. If only we had brought an extra luggage with us!
(1) We visited 南京凤凰国际书城, a multi-level bookstore with a wide range of books across different genres. There was also a DeLi stationery store inside, where we spent some time shopping for supplies. I’ve been buying DeLi products online for a while, so it was a nice experience browsing in their physical store for a change.
(2) The other bookstore we visited was a familiar one - Popular Bookstore, located in 虹悦城 shopping mall. Although it's quite small, stepping inside felt just like being in the Popular we all know back home, and they had an interesting selection of books as well!
Shopping Area
(1) 1912 District (1912街区)
(2) Fuzimiao Pedestrian Street (夫子庙步行街)
Both places offered plenty of local food that kept our tummies happy! At 1912 District, we even came across penny-press machines. We had fun making souvenir coins imprinted with images of the Presidential Palace (总统府), Sun Yat-sen (孙中山), and some of his famous quotes.
Over at Fuzimiao, there were plenty of shops selling magnet souvenirs and local specialty snacks packaged in gift boxes. We picked up a few to bring home for our families.
For souvenirs, 阅江楼 actually had some lovely options like bookmarks and keychains that are worth checking out when you’re there. I also picked up a beautiful commemorative coin (纪念币) from a vending machine at the 六朝博物馆.
Taobao
Having shopped on Taobao for the past 16 years, I’ve often wondered what it would be like to receive my purchases within 1-3 days, without the wait for international shipping. So the moment I arrived at the hotel, I asked the staff how I could have packages delivered there. She said to simply indicate delivery to 酒店大厅 (hotel lobby).
I quickly added the hotel address to my Taobao account, and for the recipient name, I wrote [My Name] - [Room Number] - 酒店大厅 (just to be safe).
The delivered packages were placed on a shelf beside the concierge. I had packages arriving almost every day, and each evening when we returned to the hotel, my daughter would go on a little “treasure hunt” to find my parcels on the shelf, by identifying the last four digits of my phone number.
It was a small dream come true for me, finally experiencing fast and fuss-free Taobao shopping in China!
Of all the things I bought, one of them was an inflatable mattress (together with electric pump). The 地垫 provided by the hotel was quite firm, so I ordered a mattress from Taobao to make sleeping more comfortable, especially since we were staying for so many days.
MISCELLANEOUS
Stamp Collecting
Stamp collecting has become quite popular, not just among tourists, but also locals, as seen on Xiaohongshu (小红书). I noticed they generally fall into three categories: official stamps, free stamps, and those you can get with a minimum purchase from shops. Since we were on a guided tour, we often didn’t have the time or freedom to hunt for stamps on our own. But that didn’t stop us. We still managed to collect a few whenever the opportunity came up!
One useful piece of advice I came across online was to always use loose sheets of paper and stamp on only one side. Loose sheets make it easy to rearrange or organise your collection later, and stamping on just one side because the ink tends to seep through to the other side.
(1) The official stamps require you to purchase stamping cards from a machine and then collect stamps at designated stations where the stamping machines are located. We didn’t go for this option, as it was nearly impossible to locate the different machines while following our tour guide.
(2) There are also free stamps available at certain places, usually single-color with simpler designs. We only came across these once during our trip, at the 六朝博物馆 souvenir shop, where we stamped (the red ones in the photo). They also had stamps that required a minimum purchase, but since nothing really caught our eye, we didn’t end up buying anything.
We stumbled upon a shop filled with a huge variety of stamps (the photo only shows one section of it). We couldn’t resist, even though it was near the end of our free-and-easy time at Fuzimiao and we had just 10 minutes left before meeting the group. My daughter loves Nezha, and she was thrilled to find Nezha-themed stamps there!
The shop had a minimum purchase requirement of RMB 9.90, after which you could freely stamp anything in the store. We picked out a 金榜题名 magnet (since we were at 夫子庙 lol) and began stamping away happily!
There were also stamps with a minimum purchase requirement at a shop at Nanjing Airport, though at a higher amount. We decided to give it a pass as we didn't have anything to buy from the shop.
The Photo Op Walls
There are beautiful photo op walls around at touristy places, perfect for snapping a quick photo or two.
(1) Fuzimiao Pedestrian Street
(2) The street leading to 中山陵
(3) Airport
PREPARATION
Please do not get overwhelmed by this section. It’s absolutely not necessary or required for the trip.
I’m simply documenting what I did to support my own learning, and sharing it here in case it’s helpful for anyone who’s interested.
This might just be my personal learning style, but I’ve always found that I need to understand the big picture before zooming in on the details. So before the trip, I took some time to locate Nanjing on the map and familiarize myself with the general shape and layout of the city. Doing this helped me feel more grounded, and made it easier to connect the dots as I learned new things during the trip.
The map and street view
As mentioned, I’m an anxious person, so tools like Baidu Map and its street view were incredibly helpful for me. I saved all the locations listed in our itinerary on Baidu Map (as shown by the little stars on the map above), and used street view to explore the surroundings of each place in advance. This helped me feel more prepared and eased a lot of my pre-trip anxiety. The more I can reduce the unknowns, the more comfortable I feel. This preparation really made a difference in helping me enjoy the trip with greater peace of mind.
The payment options
OCBC
The easiest way to make payments in China is actually if you have an OCBC account. With the OCBC app, both the “Scan” and “Show My QR” functions come with Alipay+ integration, allowing you to pay at merchants that accept Alipay.
OR
Changi App
Alternatively, if you prefer using a wallet instead of debiting directly from your bank account, you can opt for the Changi App. Simply top up the Changi Pay wallet (powered by Liquid Pay) within the app, and you’ll be able to make payments at merchants that accept Alipay too.
OR
Alipay & WeChat
If you don’t mind going through identity verification (by uploading your passport details), you can use Alipay and WeChat Pay just like the locals do. Once verified on Alipay or WeChat, simply link your credit or debit card to start making payments.
For Alipay, many merchants have tap-and-pay terminals (碰一下). So if your phone’s NFC is enabled, you can simply unlock your phone and tap to pay, just like using PayWave in Singapore. I really enjoyed using this feature. It saved me from fumbling with the app, searching for the barcode or scanner, and made the payment process quick and seamless.
For international credit cards, Alipay and WeChat Pay currently waive transaction fees for payments under 200 RMB.
Youtrip & Wise
To make it even more cost-effective, I used my YouTrip card, which offers extremely competitive exchange rates. It was a great way to stretch every dollar while making payments through Alipay and WeChat Pay.
My backup card (the other one I linked to Alipay and WeChat) was Wise, which works similarly to YouTrip. When I last checked, YouTrip offered slightly better exchange rates, so I primarily relied on it. There was one occasion when my YouTrip balance ran out without me realising, and the payment was automatically deducted from my Wise account instead. That’s when I truly appreciated the importance of having a backup card linked, just in case!
AND
Cash
I try to avoid using cash, as I really appreciate having all my payment records in one place, it makes tracking and reviewing expenses much easier. However, there was one instance at 虹悦城 Popular Bookstore when my phone connection suddenly went cranky, and I couldn’t complete the payment via Alipay or WeChat Pay. That’s when having some backup cash on hand really came in handy!
That was actually one of only two times we used cash during the entire trip. The first was when we bought a RMB 10 umbrella from a street vendor outside the 总统府 because it was raining.
Other useful apps
Baidu Map
As I’ve mentioned earlier, Baidu Map was a huge help during my trip preparation. But even during the trip itself, I found myself frequently opening the app, Partly because, well, anxious me needed to know exactly where we were! It gave me a sense of reassurance, especially being able to track our location and estimate how long each journey would take.
Another benefit of keeping the map opened was that it helped me stay present and not miss meaningful moments. For example, I caught my first glimpse of the Yangtze River because I was watching our location on the map. As we neared the river, I knew to look up and out of the window to enjoy the view.
DiDi (Ride-hailing app)
Thanks to a helpful staff at KFC, I learned about mini-programs within Alipay and WeChat. She kindly offered to guide me after noticing we were struggling with the "scan to order" process. It turned out to be a really useful lesson, especially since it happened early in our trip, on our second evening, when we had our first free-and-easy night. What she taught me made a big difference and helped me navigate the apps with much more confidence for the rest of the trip.
It turns out, you don’t actually need to install separate apps. You can simply search for the brand name (like 肯德基 or 麦当劳) directly within Alipay or WeChat, and the mini-program will launch for you to place an order.
With that knowledge, I also accessed DiDi through Alipay and used the ride-hailing service smoothly and fuss-free. Simply search for "didi," and the suggestion “滴滴出行” will appear. That’s the mini-program to launch in order to start using the ride-hailing service. No need to download a separate app!
You actually don’t need to use DiDi, as transport is provided throughout the trip. However, during free-and-easy periods, if you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can easily hail a ride to explore other places on your own, or even stay out a bit longer to shop and make your own way back to the hotel later.
ChatGPT
It’s a quick and easy way to get a summary of the places you’ll be visiting, giving you a brief idea of where you're going. It helped me a lot before the trip. Just having some background on the history and significance of each site in the itinerary made the experience more meaningful.
Also, along the way, whenever something sparked our curiosity (like the “blue whale” example I mentioned earlier) ChatGPT became my go-to companion for quick answers. It’s incredibly satisfying to get an immediate explanation and learn something new on the spot.
Another instance was when we noticed that the bottom parts of many roadside tree trunks were painted white. I asked ChatGPT about it and learned that this is a common practice in China, done for pest control, sun protection, and even visibility at night. It also reflects how tree care differs between China and Singapore, influenced by different climates and government approaches.
Taobao
An app that needs no introduction. If you’ve used Taobao before, you’ll know just how addictive it can be. But shopping on it while in China takes the experience to a whole new level, with most items delivered mostly within two days. It was such a thrill to receive my orders so quickly!
Things to bring
Here are the things I brought (and a few I wish I had brought), in hopes that this list might be helpful to someone planning a similar trip!
Electronics
(1) Travel adapter - Depending on the number of devices you have, we used 4 in total, for charging phones and one for my hair dryer (yes I brought my own hair dryer).
(2) Digital luggage scale - I have this lying around at home but forgot to bring along.
Personal Hygiene
(1) Tissue paper!
(2) Wet tissue
(3) Hand sanitizer
(4) Nail clipper - It was a long trip, and I forgot to pack a nail clipper. I ended up buying one from the supermarket near our hotel. And to my surprise, they had the nail clippers displayed in a glass display shelf! You had to point to the one you wanted, and the staff would take it out for you like some luxury item, haha.
Weather
(1) Umbrella - It was 梅雨季 (the plum rain season) during our trip, so it rained quite a bit (not heavy rain though). On the bright side, the rain helped cool down the summer heat, but it did make things a little inconvenient, especially during our excursions.
(2) Sunblock
(3) Portable fan - Something I wished I had brought along.
Mosquito
(1) Mosquito patches/spray - I did bring mosquito repellent, but there was one day I forgot to take it with me, and I think the mosquitoes were absolutely delighted with their buffet spread that day!
(2) SOOV Bite (itch relief gel) - I carry this with me every day, even in Singapore, and my daughter has one in her school bag too. It’s an amazing little tube of gel that relieves itching within 2 minutes. A true lifesaver for mosquito bites!
(3) Thin long pants - Next time, I’d definitely pack more lightweight long pants - thin enough to handle the heat, but long enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay. I recently saw a pair at Decathlon with zippers that let you transform them from long to short pants. Genius!
Others
(1) Hangers - There were only a few hangers in the hotel room and no wardrobe, so it’s a good idea to bring along some extra hangers, or even a travel-sized clothes rack if you have one.
(2) Disposable towels - Hotel do provide but this is just a personal preference. I brought 3 along, and during our stay, I bought more from Taobao.
Medication
When it comes to medications, you probably have your own go-to list for travel. This is just my personal list for reference. Please make sure to only take or bring medications that you’re familiar with and not allergic to. Always choose what works best and safest for you and your family!
(1) SeaBand & Novomin - For motion sickness
(2) Germidine Sore Throat Spray - In case we get sorethroat from heaty food
(3) Betadine Antiseptic Liquid & Handsaplast - In case of cut
(4) Zyrtec - For my allergy
(5) Gaviscon - For my stomach
(6) Ruyi Oil
(7) Ultracarbon - In case of diarrhoe
(8) Panadol - Which I'm sadly allergic to
(9) Vitamin C - Need to stay healthy for the trip!
Things to note
Getting Around
Transport was provided throughout the entire trip. The bus ride to school took about 7 minutes, while most rides to excursion sites ranged from 20 to 40 minutes. The longest journey we experienced was about 1 hour 20 minutes, from Phoenix International Book City (凤凰国际书城) back to the hotel, due to heavy peak hour traffic.
Train your legs and build up your stamina (especially if you’re like me and don’t exercise much)! There’s quite a bit of walking involved to fully enjoy the trip. For instance, 392 steps at 中山陵, 7 stories to climb at 阅江楼, and lots of walking through museums and historical sites. It’s all manageable, but being physically prepared makes the experience a lot more enjoyable. That said, there’s always the option to skip the climbs and wait comfortably while others explore.
When you board a DiDi, it's a good practice to tell the driver the last four digits of your phone number. This helps them verify that the right passenger is getting into their car. Even if you don’t mention it, they’ll still ask, but I got the sense that they expect passengers to say it first. It’s a small gesture, but it helps the ride start off smoothly.
When booking a DiDi, don’t rely solely on GPS for your location, especially if you’re at a large mall. A helpful tip I learned from a security guard at a mall (when I was wondering how to get driver to pick us up at the right place) was to message the driver with the specific entrance number and a nearby shop name for easier identification, like “1号门 星巴克.” GPS can sometimes mislead drivers to nearby spots, so giving clear landmarks helps ensure they pick you up at the right spot.
Dining
Food in general tends to be oilier than what we're used to in Singapore.
Fast food isn’t actually fast, so if you’re in a rush, it’s better to look for other options.
Fast food restaurants are usually not crowded, making them a comfortable place to rest and eat.
KFC outlets are more common than McDonald’s, and you’ll likely see them almost everywhere.
In many places, tray return isn’t required.
Where tray return is needed, be sure to look out for the signs and sorting bins, to separate trash, leftover food, and cutlery.
Shopping
Dogs are allowed in malls, and it’s not uncommon to see them unleashed, something quite different from what we’re used to in Singapore.
At supermarkets, cashiers typically don’t bag your items for you. They’ll ask if you want a plastic bag, and if you do, they’ll hand you the bag along with your items, leaving you to pack them yourself. Quite similar to the old Daiso experience in Singapore, rather than NTUC where staff usually help with bagging.
Communication
If your child(ren) is old enough, consider setting up a WeChat account for them so they can stay in touch with their new friends. Let your child note down their WeChat ID to share it with their new friends.
It’s also a good idea for parents to have a WeChat account. Mr. Tan suggested that I add him on WeChat as a backup communication channel, in case WhatsApp doesn’t work.
To continue using Google, Facebook, and other blocked apps while in China, you can either activate roaming with your Singapore telco or purchase a Singapore-based eSIM. I prefer using our telco's roaming service to stay connected seamlessly. If you have to expect any form of OTP, using your telco's roaming is the best bet.
Our family used three different types of mobile plans, listed below for your reference.
Daddy is on Singtel,
Subscribed to: UnlimitedRoam Asia 14 Days, unlimited usage with first 15GB at high speed. S$35
Mummy is on GOMO,
Subscribed to: Asia Unlimited for 15 Days. S$25
Daughter is on Simba
Default 3GB free roaming , additional $4/GB
When connected to hotel's wifi, Facebook, Google, Whatsapp will not work.
Toilet
Do not throw tissue paper into the toilet bowl, as it may cause clogging. Always use the waste bin provided.
Some public toilets don’t provide toilet paper, so it’s best to carry your own tissues or toilet paper with you at all times.
Squat toilets are more common than seated ones.
While malls typically have seated toilets, most cubicles are still squat toilets.
If you're traveling with younger children, it’s a good idea to teach them how to use squat toilets before the trip to avoid stress.
Reading Up
If you’d like to deepen your appreciation of the museum visits, it helps to do a bit of reading beforehand, especially about 孙中山, 朱元璋, and a brief overview of China’s dynasties, particularly the periods when Nanjing served as the capital. For those who wish to explore further, you can look into 《红楼梦》in connection with 江宁织造博物馆, and《阅江楼记》 for 阅江楼.
That said, don’t worry. You’ll still enjoy and benefit from the experience even without this prep!
Others
Some shops and hotel corridors may not turn on the air-conditioning on cooler days, making it feel stuffy indoors. In fact, the outdoors can sometimes feel more comfortable than inside.
Medicines are not sold in supermarkets, so you’ll need to find a pharmacy if needed. It’s best to bring along any essential medication from home.
Spending: In total, we spent an additional S$600 on food, transport, and shopping throughout the trip. Approximately S$200 each.
Sensory-sensitive children: Be aware that some roadside stalls sell toy pistols that produce loud sounds and smoke, which may be distressing for children with sensory processing sensitivities. These are not sounds or sights commonly encountered in Singapore, so children might be caught off guard or feel uncomfortable due to the unfamiliar noise and visual stimuli.
CONCLUSION
Is the trip worth it?
Definitely, yes! It was educational, enriching, and filled with unique experiences. Even though we signed up later and didn’t enjoy the early bird discount, every cent was worth it. The experience was truly invaluable, and I’m so grateful we had the opportunity to be part of it.
What made it even more special is how authentic the experience was - something usually only accessible through official school exchange programmes. I especially loved that this was a family-based immersion, where both parents and children could be involved in the school environment together.
Despite all my over-sharing in this long post that took me almost a week to finish, it still only scratches the surface of what we truly experienced. You really have to be there to feel it for yourself. Quoting my daughter: “呼吸不到那里的空气” (you can’t breathe the air there just by reading this). What she said made me LOL, but she’s absolutely right!
The people in Nanjing were kind and helpful. A KFC staff kindly taught me how to use mini-programs on Alipay and WeChat, and a McDonald’s staff helped me navigate WeChat to purchase a 30-day membership that saved me some money.
I usually avoid group travel because I prefer more flexibility and control, but this experience surprised me in the best way. It was a nice change to just follow the schedule and free up my mental load. I even had time to sort through the thousands of photos I took while on the bus! It was also meaningful to interact with other parents, whom all joined the trip for similar reasons. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that some of them live near us!
Just a note: each trip may vary depending on the group dynamics and scheduling. We were fortunate to have an extra day tour added to our itinerary, allowing us to cover more places than the standard 9-day programme - a blessing in disguise thanks to the change in Scoot’s flight timing!
Mr. Tan doesn’t have an official website, but you can reach him through his Facebook, where he shares updates and activities. The immersion programme is shared only through mailing lists, word of mouth, and school channels, so if you’re interested, keep a lookout!
The next trip in November/December is now open for registration. You can check it out here if you are interested!
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