Perhaps it is the gentle rustling of leaves that whispers tales of the past as we stand before Guilin No. 5 Middle School. This school is more than just a place of learning. It is a landmark with a rich history dating back to 1957.
Guilin No. 5 Middle School began its journey as Guilin No. 5 Junior Middle School. It was located at the foot of Guanyin Pavilion Mountain on Reed Flute Road. The school started modestly with five classes and just over 200 students. A small team of dedicated teachers guided them. Tang Chunian, the first headmaster, led the charge in transforming the grounds.
Imagine the scene. Students and teachers cleared weeds and leveled the land. They filled trenches and built pathways. Over two years, they created more than 4,000 square meters of school paths. They planted hundreds of fruit trees. Impressively, they transplanted 4,000 osmanthus trees. The green coverage reached 45%.
In 1970, Guilin No. 5 Middle School expanded. High school classes were added and the school’s name changed to Guilin No. 5 Middle School. It became the first complete secondary school in the northern part of Guilin. Construction changed to accommodate growth. New teaching facilities rose. These included teaching buildings and a禮堂. The school expanded its open-air stadium and built new staff dormitories. There was even a school-run factory. The number of teachers increased to fifty or sixty. Student numbers rose to four or five hundred.
Even during the “Cultural Revolution”, the school focused on education. They emphasized cultural lessons alongside practical work. Students learned industry, agriculture and military skills.
The school has consistently achieved high rates of university admissions. In 1978, one student gained admission to Tsinghua University. This was a remarkable feat. Only two students from Guilin achieved this that year.
After the reform and opening up, more changes occurred. New teaching and office buildings were constructed. The football field and track were expanded. Two new staff dormitory buildings were added. The school gradually increased in size. The junior high school expanded from four to six or eight classes per grade. The senior high school grew from two to four or six classes per grade. By 1996, the school had 30 classes. There were around 1,800 students and 130 staff members.
In May 1997, Luo Tianxing became the principal. He separated the living and teaching areas. Over 20 million yuan was raised to construct a new teaching building of 10,950 square meters. A sports training hall of 2,200 square meters was built. Inside were table tennis, shaping, basketball, volleyball and badminton facilities. An artificial turf sports field was created. A comprehensive office building of 2,193 square meters followed. It featured multimedia classrooms. Network classrooms, language labs, physics, chemistry and biology labs were upgraded. The library and reading room expanded. Modern teaching facilities became complete. Additionally, the campus gained over 7,000 square meters of green space. Early dormitories were expanded.
Since 1997, Guilin No. 5 Middle School maintained high university enrollment rates. Except for a few years, its rates ranked among the top in the city’s general high schools. In 2003, it was recognized as a first-class high school.
In 2007, alumni donated over 100,000 yuan. This led to the establishment of the “Alumni Scholarship Fund” and the “Wan Kang Moral Education Scholarship Fund”.
By January 2018, the school had 111 staff members. Advanced degree holders made up 84% of the faculty. The school has received over 50 awards. These include recognition as a National Green School.
As we conclude our visit to Guilin No. 5 Middle School, remember its motto: “崇德、明礼、笃学、美雅” This translates to “Uphold morality, understand etiquette, pursue learning, and admire elegance”. It encapsulates the spirit of this esteemed institution. The school continues to nurture future generations. It embodies the values of education and community.