Keen interest

As most of the students are Malaysian-Chinese, they have a keen interest in Chinese history and culture, and other aspects relating to their ancestral roots.

Mok Hao Han is a student with an interest in ancient Chinese architecture. He said his knowledge about China's ancient architecture is from his grandmother.

"My grandma was a teacher of Chinese history," Mok said.

"When I was a kid, she told me that China boasts some of the greatest ancient buildings in the world. What she said aroused my curiosity in this country where she was from and now my dream has come true because of this trip to Shanxi."

When viewing the ancient buildings, Mok said the aesthetics of the structures can inspire him as a student of artistic design.

"I've paid special attention to the linear characteristics of the buildings' roofs, as well as their colors," he said. "I believe these are the things I can learn from for my designs."

Wong Xin Yi, a student of graphic design at PIA, shares the same interests with Mok. She said she is a follower of Lin Huiyin, a renowned Chinese researcher in ancient Chinese architecture and an artistic designer.

"I was informed that Lin and her husband Liang Sicheng, who was also a famed architecture researcher, discovered quite a few ancient buildings in Shanxi," Wong said. "This time, I'd like to follow in their footsteps to find out what and where they are."

She said she was lucky that Foguang Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples discovered and identified by Lin and Liang, was in her itinerary.

At the temple, the tour guide told her that this is the second-oldest preserved wooden-structure building in China, next only to the Nanchan Buddhist Temple, which is also located in the county of Wutai and which they would visit later.

According to inscriptions found in the temple, the Grand Eastern Hall, the main hall of Foguang, was built in 857 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and has been preserved to this date. It has a history that rivals the Nanchan Temple, which has a main hall built in 782.