Xiamen University to offer tree-climbing course
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Buy SPH photos(CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Don't be surprised to hear phrases such as "Let's go climb the tree!" and "Have you climbed the tree?" on Xiamen University campus in Fujian province.
The university will become the first in China to offer a tree-climbing course, starting this semester.
"Climbing a tree is such an easy thing," said Mr Gong Wenhai, a junior year student. "Do they have to offer a course?" Gong comes from the countryside in Hubei province and climbing trees is a common childhood game. "Some students may even be better at it than the teachers," he joked.
However, Mr Zheng Daxiong, one of three physical education teachers who will teach the course, says the situation is not that simple and "this is actually an important complementary part of field survival ability. It's not climbing trees as some did in childhood." Xiamen University has conducted field survival courses for 10 years. But previously it taught rock climbing or steeplechase, which sounds more professional than tree climbing.
