In order to study, understand and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's reply, promote people-to-people ties of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and bring into play culture's empowerment, some international students from Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT) were invited to participate in the 2023 "Zhi&Xing Guizhou" Silk Road Youth Exchange Programme in Bijie, hosted by the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education and the Secretariat of the Organising Committee of China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week, from July 2nd to July 7th. Specifically, four international students from Bangladesh, Syria, Ghana and Nigeria participated in this study tour and exchange activity.
▲ Group Photo of CDUT's Chinese Teacher and International Students
The five-day activity gathered more than 30 Chinese and international teachers and students from 11 universities at home and abroad in Bijie for exchanges and learning regarding different study tour themes.
Enjoying the beautiful scenery of Guizhou. This study tour kicked off in Huawu Village, Qianxi City, a village by the Wujiang River, where young Chinese and foreign participants immersed themselves in the "Hundred-Mile Gallery", appreciated the scenery of Huawu and perceived rural development.
▲ CDUT's Chinese Teacher and International Students Visiting Huawu Village
Exploring the wonderful and mysterious Zhijin Cave. International teachers and students also visited Zhijin County, Bijie City, to learn about the cultural history of Zijin Cave and the hometown of Ding Baozhen and experience the culture of an ancient town bloomed with lotuses and bathed in misty rain.
▲ CDUT's Chinese Teacher and International Students Visiting Zhijin Cave and Pingyuan Ancient Town
Experiencing the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) skills of wax dyeing and paper cutting. CDUT's Chinese teacher and international students learned the unique techniques of Zhijin wax dyeing and Qianxi paper cutting under the guidance of two national ICH inheritors. They also participated in a tai chi exercise activity and a fun sports meeting, in which they understood the basic theory and knowledge of traditional ethnic sports and felt the characteristics of the ethnic minority's traditional sports.
▲ CDUT's Chinese Teacher and International Students Experiencing Qianxi Paper Cutting
Experiencing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture. CDUT's Chinese teacher and international students also visited Bijie Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, to learn TCM knowledge, experience TCM therapy and feel the unique cultural charm of TCM, in which they deepened their understanding and acceptance of TCM culture.
▲ CDUT's Chinese Teacher and International Students Learning TCM Culture
During the five-day immersive cultural study tour, CDUT's Chinese teacher and international students understood Guizhou's various aspects on the soil of Guizhou all the way and felt Guizhou's distinctive culture and the collision of Chinese and foreign cultures. TAKIA AKTER (Chinese name: Shen Jie, an international undergraduate student majoring in Business Administration in the Class of 2021), an international student of CDUT, said, "ICH culture needs to be passed down by people consciously. During this trip to Guizhou, I saw the mountains and rivers of China. When I stood in front of the Wujiang River in Bijie, Guizhou, I felt like I was in a beautiful landscape painting. I also gained a deeper understanding of the local culture and felt the charm of traditional Chinese culture. "
▲ TAKIA AKTER (Chinese Name: Shen Jie), an International Student of CDUT
The activity provided CDUT's international students from BRI countries with an opportunity for people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. Not only did the students gain a more comprehensive and profound understanding of traditional Chinese culture through the collision of nature and culture, but they also deepened their friendship.
