First graders all study in first-floor classrooms which contain their own restrooms. The higher grades are on the third and fourth floors. As the children grow, their knowledge increases along with their level in the building.

In addition to the unique "attain eminence step by step" architecture, the three compounds all face southward to broaden the students' vision and avoid the closed-in feeling of the traditional U-shaped campus. No wonder the teachers could not help but offer praise: "Wherever you stand, you can easily see a display of beauty. Little children growing up on this spacious campus will be educated and influenced imperceptibly by its beautiful setting."

Arches

Standing inside an arch and looking outward, you can see the curved line of the horizon and underneath the many arches of buildings of different heights. The lines of arches and buildings artfully transform the sky into a fan. Through each arch, students can see the sky in different shapes. When you move to another spot, what shape does the sky become?

In an aim to make the view more varied and colorful, arches appear on different floors. Similarly, the balconies also have variations--some are made into flowerbeds while others have hollowed-out railings. It brings a touch of playfulness to the buildings of placid gray.

Playing games on the grass

On the grass around the third compound, students practice riding unicycles. The big, medium and small figures riding far and near form an interesting scene. The gymnasium is just across from the grass turf, an excellent place for physical education or practicing acrobatics.

During class breaks, students lean on the railings and talk, while watching the acrobats practice throwing rings. With the attention of an audience, the acrobats are encouraged and play even harder, making a lot of noise. "Throw them!" Throwing the rings beomes a highly competitive game as one student tosses the rings higher than the other. "Throw them higher!" When a ring is thrown to the third floor, the audience breaks out in applause.

Each of the three compounds has a unique design. The third compound here is covered with grass to lend the space a soft and natural atmosphere. The first compound has a pond as well as a grass lawn, and is made of bricks. The second compound has a plaza paved with interlocking bricks, which provides an ideal place for holding morning gatherings.

Penetrable staircases

Fourth floor, third floor, second floor and first floor... On the staircases, no matter whether you climb up breathlessly or rush down two steps at a time, you will see a different view every time you turn a corner. From the first floors, you see the main gardens of the compounds, composed of round arches, corridors and grass. As you climb higher, you can see the city of Tali in the distance and a nearby park.

The penetrable design opens up staircases that were originally dark and close, provides broad vistas and introduces a flow of light and air. Looking outward, each staircase offers a different picture. The figure clad in bright yellow hanging onto a railings, others climbing stairs with garbage cans, and the silhouettes against the walls inside the arches, all look like features in a three-panelled cartoon.

The rooftop garden

Flowerbeds, wooden seats and wooden stairs make the rooftop of the Rui-cheng Elementary School unique. The rooftop garden and outdoor elevated teaching space enable teachers and students to have small gatherings, performances, and classes under the sky.

Unlike the action-packed activities on the ground, programs such as English speech contests, small concerts and plays performed on the rooftop space add a tinge of romantic atmosphere to the afternoon campus life.

Architect Huang talks about his first ideas for the design: "I tried to give the non-inclined roofs usable space so that the students on the top floors could have an extra courtyard to use after classes. To beautify the rooftops, flowers, grass, and trees were planted and wooden seats were added to positively create a feeling of leisure and recreation."