Life of Guangzhou - "Green Map" of University Town Launched

"Green Map" of Guangzhou University Town (Guangzhou Daily)

On 20th January, a green map of Guangzhou's University Town was issued by "Fresh," an environmental association of student's from South China University of Technology. Deng Liqin, the student-organizer of the project, presented the map to the public recently, many of whom were impressed by its readability and comprehensive structure.

It took fifty students and over five months to complete the map. "We learned a lot and enjoyed the process very much," said Deng Liqin. All the cartographers needed to observe every corner of the town to identify the most interesting natural features and sites.

Students drawing the "Green Map" of Guangzhou University Town. (Guangzhou Daily)

The "Green Map" project has quickly spread across the town's campuses as students are amazed by its creativity and moved by the environmental issues it defends. Even though the icons on the maps are identical, each "Green Map" is in fact unique, created by different painters with various styles. A student from the designer group said with enthusiasm that "last time we climbed up the mountain we were so surprised to see some very unusual birds". All these young cartographers say they had great fun working on this project and that they have learned to better observer their surroundings.

This project was also a good opportunity for them to learn to cooperate and communicate with others. Shi Kuan, another member of "Fresh", said that next they want to draw a green map of Guangzhou. The proposal has been submitted to a cultural project competition and if they win, that shall guarantee funding for the project. Shi Kuan proudly told us "We wish to finish the first part of the green map named "Lingnan" Culture and offer it as a gift to the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.

(Katherine Zhang, David Keyton)