Tangshi Primary School is considered to be the most beautiful school in Zhangjiagang, though it is located in a rural area outside of the city. The new campus, renovated late last year, boasts of features typical of the Suzhou style.

A total of 200 million yuan was invested in the new campus, and the students come from 22 provinces.

Every Friday afternoon, volunteers from the city's cultural center come to the school to teach some special classes focusing on traditional Chinese culture - including calligraphy and arts, embroidery and Erhu (a two-stringed Chinese violin) - free of charge.

Chen Jing, the headmaster, said that these special lessons were chosen based on a survey of the students and aim to contribute to the quality of the education and the atmosphere of the campus.

The facilities meet the requirements of the highest standard in Jiangsu province, including 61 classrooms with one computer for 6 students.

“Both the special classes and garden-like campus are the result of promoting quality education with an emphasis on balanced development,” said Chen.

Chen is also proud of the school for the diverse backgrounds of its students. “I feel like a president of a university instead of a headmaster of a primary school,” he said, adding that the school has 2479 students, and 1756 – or 70 % - are children of migrant workers.

Wang Lihui, a grade five student of the Bouyei ethnic minority, comes from rural Guizhou province. His father said that they would never have dreamt that such a campus could exist – let alone think about being a student in such an environment. The school requires that all teachers should be patient, give support and be tolerant of the students.

It has also set up a scholarship to help outstanding students from underprivileged backgrounds students, and launched a program called "Sunny Breakfast".

The teachers once took turns to go to a student's home to teach him as he was unable to attend lessons following an accident. His father once wrote a thank-you letter to the school, saying “I am a migrant worker and I'm happy that my child is studying in such a nice school. I was amazed that the teachers gave so much time and love to my child and I'm really grateful.”

Chen said that the school enables migrant workers' children to receive top-quality education just like other kids. This is what makes our school "the most beautiful school in Zhangjiagang".