The city was planned and designed years in advance. The sights and sounds are breathtaking. And pupils do eye exercises at school and their school day lasts from 7.

The city was planned and designed years in advance. The sights and sounds are breathtaking. And pupils do eye exercises at school and their school day lasts from 7.30am-5pm.

These are just some of the varied discoveries made by a group of Dereham students and teachers who have just finished a two-week trip to Shanghai in China.

Ten pupils and four staff from Neatherd High School developed a partnership with a school in the Xuhui district and focusing on art and culture in the city.

The group updated people back home with how they were getting on through a blog on the school website.

They are also taking part in a BBC project called The Box which is following a 40-foot container around the globe.

Students met the box at Shanghai docks and will be reporting on it using video, audio and text reports.

The Dereham students have visited a wide range of attractions in Shanghai and surrounding area and have been recording what they have experienced in art and photography.

Sam Cox said: “Every part of Shanghai has been drawn out, planned and designed years in advance - nothing is left to chance.”

Describing traffic in Shanghai, Evie Farnham said: “We were all fascinated by the crazy driving and lanes and lanes of traffic. Bicycles, mopeds, trucks, Volkswagen Santana taxis, buses and cars all competing for space and speed. It was funny though because they are all really good at missing each other!”

Emily Clarke said: “When we went for our first visit to Nang Yang middle school we were welcomed by a big electronic sign that said 'Welcome to our friends from Neatherd High School.

“At about 8 the school bell went off… it was jingle bells (how cool is that?) and music started to play through the big speakers and in lines the pupils started jogging onto the play ground, which doubles as a running track. Then their national flag was put up and everyone sang the anthem!

“Being in the school felt like we were famous! Everyone saluted, looked, took pictures, wanted to talk to us and wanted our email addresses and some people even asked us for our autographs.”

*To read about the China trip log on to shanghai.neatherd.org.