漫步英伦古堡与江南园林：一场跨文化的建筑之旅

英国约克郡，当地时间5月1日，来自苏州外国语学校的80名赴英修学师生在刘忠保校长的带领下前往英国霍华德城堡开展文化交流活动。通过实地探访、园林对比学习与英文互动，孩子们在历史建筑中完成了一堂生动的跨国文化课。  

探访百年古堡循迹历史沉淀、漫步英伦园林共赏自然人文

上午10时，学生们在霍华德城堡讲解员的带领下开启参观。解说员介绍，该城堡始建于18世纪初，由著名建筑师约翰·范布勒设计，是英国巴洛克建筑的典范。孩子们仔细观察了城堡大厅的穹顶壁画、雕花立柱及历代霍华德家族成员的肖像陈列，依次游览了中央大厅、家族画廊和礼拜堂。在挂满油画的走廊中，讲解员介绍了城堡300多年的历史，并特别展示了17世纪彩绘玻璃窗的修复工艺。“阳光照进来时，地板上会出现彩虹！”一名学生兴奋地说。  

午后，团队转至占地千亩的霍华德庄园园林。修剪整齐的几何形灌木丛、绵延的玫瑰园与散落各处的古典雕塑构成典型英式园林景观。在阿特拉斯喷泉前师生们驻足欣赏，深刻感受石雕人物与水流动态的结合，展现出自然与人文的完美平衡。

参观期间，学生们还通过园林管理员的讲解了解到庄园在保持历史风貌的同时，采用可持续的植被养护方式。孩子们注意到："草坪上特意保留的野花区域，既维持了生态多样性，又增添了自然野趣。"

中英园林对话碰撞美学理念、东西文化交融探寻共鸣之声

下午的活动在城堡花园举行。霍华德城堡博物馆馆长、历史学博士Dr Chris Ridgway以“东西方园林对话”为主题，通过图片和实物对比，向孩子们解析霍华德城堡与苏州拙政园的异同。“英国园林注重对称和开阔的视野，拙政园则讲究‘移步换景’。Dr Chris Ridgway指着城堡的几何形花坛解释，“比如这些修剪整齐的灌木，对应的是中国园林中精心布置的假山与竹林。”  

活动中，Dr Chris Ridgway向苏外的孩子们提出的四个问题：1、英式园林的什么特点最吸引你？2、英氏园林和中式园林有哪些不同？3、你会如何在霍华德城堡中建造一座中式园林？4、园林为何如此重要？孩子们分小组用英文积极讨论交流。当讨论到在霍华德城堡里如何建造一座中式园林时，王师庭同学用英文分享他的创意思考：“To create a Chinese garden at Castle Howard we need to build walls around the castle,replace the grasslands with trees and flowers,dig more ponds,build some pavilions and build long corridors.”负责此次赴英修学项目的庄伟博士称赞孩子们的叙述“清晰且充满想象力”，英文表达能力更是令人印象深刻。  

活动尾声，Dr Chris Ridgway为每位学生颁发修学证书，证书印有霍华德城堡的标志性景观。他和师生们在城堡前合影留念，孩子们手持证书，身后是城堡的巴洛克式建筑与盛放的玫瑰园。  

在本次充满意义的活动中，Dr Chris Ridgway以独特且多元的视角，引领着孩子们探寻英国霍华德城堡与中国拙政园之间那些微妙而动人的相似之处。尽管霍华德城堡位于遥远的异国他乡，拙政园深植于中华大地，二者所处国度不同，文化背景更是大相径庭。然而，跨越千山万水，穿越文化差异，人们对于美的不懈追求、骨子里的诗情画意以及对亲近自然的那份深切渴望，却是毫无二致的。

在这段难忘的旅程里，孩子们不仅沉浸式地体会到了不同文化的独特魅力，收获了别具一格的城堡游览体验，更重要的是，他们真切地感受到了文化交流所蕴含的深刻意义。在体验多元文化的过程中，孩子们敏锐地捕捉到，尽管文化各异，但对于美的向往和追求却是相通的，这种共鸣让这次旅程变得格外珍贵。

带队的苏州外国语学校黄玉娟校长表示：“这种实地对比教学，让孩子们直观感受到不同文化的魅力。尤其是用英文参与专业讨论，对他们而言既是挑战也是成长。”据悉，此次交流活动是苏外国际文化课程的一部分，未来将持续开展跨国文化遗产研学项目。 

学生感想

今天我们来到了Castle Howard,它盖在比较偏僻的地方，所以附近、周围到处都是绿油油的植被，让人觉得很舒畅。我们先听了来自馆长的课堂，知道Castle Howard建立于1699年，由John Vanbrugh设计并在18世纪完工。可是它在中途遭到我们先来到室内，看见了公爵的卧室，长廊边都是雕像，也挂了许多画。屋顶是巴洛克风格的，还画着太阳神的画。接着，我们来到了室外，这里有柔软的草地，喷泉和雕像和鲜艳的花卉。Castle Howard不仅风景美丽，而且历史底蕴深厚，让我十分难忘。

——海六班谢炘佑

Today,I went to Castle Howard.It’s really an awesome experience!After the lesson about this castle,we solved a loads of problems:How to build a Chinese garden in an English castle,What are the difference between the two gardens and why are the gardens important.So,during the tour visiting the castle,I’ve got a few ideas about these questions.First,I don’t think the UK’s gardens are better or the Chinese ones are better.They’re all worth visiting.Secondly,about how to build a Chinese garden in an English garden,we should bring Chinese plants like bamboos.But then,we shouldn’t just use Chinese style to build it.We can mix the two styles together and create a much more complex and better garden!I believe that garden will be wonderful.Also,about the difference between the two different styles,that’s obvious.Chinese gardens were smaller,but,the English ones were much larger;architects in the Suzhou gardens were dainty and compact,but the English ones were splendid and magnificent!

I hope I can learn more knowledge and culture about the UK in the next two months!

——六4班朱小杰

今天，阳光明媚，在这美丽的季节，我们来到美丽的霍华德城堡。

初见城堡，仅仅一个大门，便足矣让我惊叹。那与我想象中的城堡不一样，霍华德城堡整体为哥洛特式，每面墙，都有着历史的痕迹以及艺术的气息，我不由期待起来了。

上午，我们先听了馆长老先生对霍华德城堡以及中国园林的对比。我深有感触。馆长先生十分慈祥，讲到得意之处是，经常手舞足蹈，从他的眼中，我感受到了他对自己文化的热爱和对外国友人的热情。后来，我了解到，馆长老先生为这座宏伟的建筑奉献了四十多年，我想，我们每个人都要有这么一份热爱与决心，这正是馆长先生的闪光点。

下午正式参观城堡，步入城堡之时，便有一股古建筑独有的味道，让我逐渐沉浸于这美好的氛围中了。是精美绝伦的油画吸引着我的眼球，是引人抬头观赏的穹顶使我驻足欣赏，更是讲解员们为我们讲述的一个个故事让我记忆犹新。霍华德城堡与拙政园尽管风格不同，也相隔千里，但这移步换景的美感，使人不由将二者联想起来，这份独特的艺术，估计也是它们成为姐妹花园的原因之一吧。这份建筑艺术之美，筑起了中英友谊的桥梁。

经过一天的参观，我深入了解了霍华德城堡，我认为，我永远忘不了这次研学之旅。

——六4班吴蒯瑶

Today's trip to Howard Castle was both fun and educational!Our teacher gave us an interesting lesson comparing Chinese and English gardens.I learned that Chinese gardens create beautiful surprises"with every step you take,"while English gardens show，neat patterns and wide open views.Both styles are special in their own way.

Walking through the castle gardens,I realized something important-gardens are like open books that teach us about different cultures.Now when I see a garden,I don't just notice the pretty flowers.I think about the stories and ideas behind the designs.This visit helped me understand how people from different places create beauty in different ways.

I'm so glad I got to see Howard Castle.It taught me to look at gardens with new eyes and appreciate how cultures express themselves through nature.

——施佳懿

霍华德城堡，是约克的璀璨明珠，是梦幻的田园花园，是恢宏的古典建筑。

昨日，踏入城堡，仿若遁入仙境。广袤草坪似绒毯铺展，澄澈湖水如翡翠生光，缤纷繁花若仙子曼舞。

它不只是砖石土木的堆砌，每一处雕刻、每一扇窗户，都诉说着岁月故事与家族传奇。漫步其间，奢华气息在精致的陈设中弥漫，旖旎风光于亭台楼阁间流转。

——六4班洪雨

2025 May 1st

A visit to Castle Howard

Today，we went to the Castle Howard.The scenery there was pleasant.We walked along a country lane to the front of the castle,with a calm lake beside it.In the morning,we visited the inside of the castle.We saw loads of pretty rooms decorated with colorful wallpapers.On the tables，there were some delicate vases,plates and bowls.The whole castle looked very cosy.Around the time for lunch,the tour guide showed us around the Castle.The views outside were fresher.We had beef,potatoes,and broccoli for lunch.After the lunch,A teacher gave us a lesson about the Howard Castle and the Humble Administrator's Garden.We had come to understand their common points and differences.After the lecture,the teacher asked us to discuss some questions with our group mates.The topic assigned to our group was why gardens are important.We first considered the issue from a small-scale perspective.For example,it can improve cities’environment and purify the air.Then we thought from a macroscopic perspective.The gardens represent the cities culture and record the history.Finally,we collected all the perspectives and I made a report.We all got the certificates and took a photo near the Castle Howard.After a day of visiting and learning，

I was amazed at the scenery of the Castle.On the other hand,I appreciated the classical beauty of the Castle.Overall,Castle Howard has a long history and beautiful views.From this trip,I broadened my horizon and relaxed myself.

——六2班董艺

这次霍华德城堡之旅令我受益匪浅。初下大巴车，映入眼帘的是满眼的葱郁，中间点缀着星星点点的小雏菊，湖水晶莹澄澈，如明镜般通透，一直绵延至远方。紧接着，便是一座古典的欧洲建筑，外墙雕刻着精美花纹，尖顶在阳光下熠熠生辉。步入城堡内，是各式精美的雕塑，栩栩如生。墙上饰以柔顺的布料及装饰画，透露着古色古香的巴洛克风格。正中间，圆顶上画着巧夺天工的画作，完美叙述了希腊神话中的场景，配以镀金的栏杆，富丽堂皇。这座城堡不仅有艺术价值，更有历史价值，在这里，霍华德家族世代相传，透过墙壁，甚至能看到岁月如梭的痕迹，让人流连忘返。

——IC6.1王静怡

Today we went to visit Castle Howard.This trip is very meaningful.The garden was huge and gorgeous.There were a great variety of plants from all over the world in the garden.The view inside the castle was magnificent,too.The paintings and the sculptures in the castle were exquisite and expressive!That makes the castle like a feast for eyes.Overall,I got a lot from this trip.First,I found the differences between Chinese gardens and British gardens.I also learned the history of the Castle Howard.Thirdly,I enjoyed the great view of Castle Howard.

——IC6.1周子爔

家长感想

此次活动也牵动了远在7小时时差之外的家长们的心弦。

AC六班王子辰爸爸：拙政园林的隐逸意蕴VS霍华德城堡的贵族奢华，同样几百年的沉淀，迥异时空，孩子们一定会有自己深刻的理解。感谢老师们的实时分享，睡前聊以宽慰牵挂的心。

英特六2班王梓凡爸爸：作为家长，看到孩子们在霍华德城堡的跨文化之旅中展现出的热情与成长，内心充满欣慰与骄傲。这场独特的“建筑对话”不仅让孩子们置身于百年历史的巴洛克城堡与苏州园林的对比中，更让他们在实践中领悟了文化的多样性与共通性。当他们用英文自信地与专家探讨园林设计的深意，用诗意的语言描述中英美学的交融时，我们看到的不仅是语言能力的突破，更是思维与视野的跨越。

特别感动于孩子们在活动中表现出的敏锐观察力与创造力，这种能力远比书本知识更珍贵。感谢学校精心设计以及带队老师辛勤付出的实地研学项目，让教育真正“活”了起来，让年轻一代在行走中成为连接世界的桥梁。