In line with the Education Bureau’s advocacy of promoting Chinese classical texts in primary schools, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) presents the Jockey Club Animated Classical Chinese for Curious Minds Project, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of over HK$25 million. The three-year project, which began in the 2022/23 academic year, aims to enrich primary students’ knowledge of Chinese classical texts and culture in a lively and interesting way.

The Jockey Club Animated Classical Chinese for Curious Minds Project features a 48-episode animation series designed for primary students, with eight episodes for each grade. Each episode introduces one of 40 recommended masterpieces and eight enrichment chapters selected by the EdUHK project team. 

Renowned local artist Chao Yat (Mr Leung Chung-kei) has developed the episodes for P1 to P3 schoolchildren, focusing on basic knowledge of classical texts and Chinese culture. In each episode, Tiddler, the cute and energetic protagonist, leads primary students as they hop on a time machine and travel to the world of classical Chinese literature, where the main scenes are set in schools. 

For the animations aimed at P4 to P6 pupils, jointly produced by EdUHK and the Modern Educational Research Society, the team has incorporated landmarks and features of Hong Kong, such as the Shing Mun Reservoir, Sneaker Street and Hong Kong-style egg waffles, to enhance learning motivation among children. The project also features a multimedia learning platform, lesson plan and teaching materials, and parent-child picture books to facilitate learning and teaching of the subject.

The project is coordinated by President Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, and co-chaired by Vice President (Academic) and Provost Professor John Lee Chi-kin, Professor Pamela Leung Pui-wan of the Department of Chinese Language Studies, and Dr Fung Chi-wang, Associate Professor of the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies.