"It takes ten years to grow a tree, and a hundred years to cultivate a person!" As Yew Wah International Education School of Yantai (YWIES Yantai) approaches its 25th  anniversary, the eagerly awaited “Phase One” for the construction of the main structure of the YWIES Yantai Bajiaowan Campus had its official groundbreaking ceremony.

On the morning of 21 May at 9:30 a.m., distinguished guests and representatives of Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network (YCYW) gathered at the YWIES Yantai Bajiaowan Campus site to witness this milestone. Participants included: leaders from the Yantai Municipal Government, the Yantai Huang-Bohai New Area Management Committee, the Education Bureau, and other Government departments; Dr Xu Xuejun, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Business Development Officer of YCYW; Mr Tin Yip, Education Director of YCYW; Mr Jimmy Ji, Chief Support Services Officer and Deputy General Manager, Shanghai Management Company; Mr Jianbo Yao, Deputy Head of Construction and Maintenance of Beijing Yew Chung Education Consultants Co. Ltd; Mr Leon Du, Financial Director of Shanghai Yew Wah Management Consultation Co., Ltd; Ms Charity Sun, General Manager of Yantai Yaogang Education Investment Co., Ltd; other YCYW leaders;  representatives of YWIES Yantai teachers and students; and engineers for the project.

Dr Xu Xuejun, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Business Development Officer of Yew Chung Yew Wah Education Network, delivered a speech on behalf of Professor Paul Yip Kwok-wah, Chairman of YCYW, and Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO and School Supervisor.  He said, "The first phase of the YWIES Bajiaowan Campus will be completed and put into use in 2026. The high school division will be a comprehensive, top-tier high school not only for Yantai, but also for the entire Shandong Peninsula.  It will offer an integrated general and vocational education that aligns with the national strategy of promoting “new quality productive forces,” and preparing students for future challenges, as well as for admission to universities both in China and abroad."

Ms Charity Sun, General Manager of Yantai Yaogang Education Investment Co., Ltd., remarked: "The total area of the YWIES Banjiaowan Campus is 60,000 square metres. The entire project will be constructed in two phases. Upon completion of the first phase, the campus will be able to accommodate 24 classes with 1,200 high school students. After the completion of the second phase, the campus will be able to accommodate 30 classes with 1,500 high school students, as well as 12 classes with 300 kindergarten students."

The General Manager of the Fifth Company of Yantai Construction Group pledged in his speech: "The first phase of the YWIES Yantai (Bajiaowan Campus) project has a construction area of 31,820 square metres, and consists of four frame-structured, multi-story buildings. We will adhere to high standards and strict requirements. We will regulate all aspects of the construction process, and fulfil our responsibilities regarding safety, quality, and environmental protection in a strictly compliant manner."

A leader  of the Yantai Huang-Bohai New Area Management Committee noted in the speech: "As an important component of the Bajiaowan New City education sector, the launching of the construction of the Yew Wah School Bajiaowan Campus construction is another milestone in our cooperation with YCYW."

In line with YCYW’s vision of "learning through play," the structures use a design concept of  “Sailing the Sea of Learning". The staggered layout of the teaching buildings resembles ships ready to set sail into the sea of knowledge. The light and expansive horizontal floating slabs and upward-curving roofs of the teaching buildings form a varied skyline along the urban interface. The slightly twisted teaching spaces also correspond to the view of the sea and the on-campus sports fields.

The space on the first floor connecting the teaching areas of the YWIES Bajiaowan Campus will have special zones that can be used for teaching. The elevated spaces and covered walkways link paths that can be used for student interactions and displays. The communication stands along the sports fields, and the second-floor platforms are areas to create unique campus memories.

The "Future School" curriculum at YWIES Yantai Bajiaowan Campus will cover four major areas: Science and Technology, Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Performing Arts, and Health and Wellness. The courses will provide students with a comprehensive education and the necessary skills to thrive in the 21st century, such as digital and information literacy, cross-cultural communication and multilingual abilities, innovation and entrepreneurial skills, and rapid learning and adaptability. Students will also learn soft skills for communication, cooperation, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility, aesthetic appreciation, empathy, and lifelong learning. These will help the students succeed in their future careers and become leaders and innovators.