Tan Yifan

ciciTan2011@gmail.com

THE first China-Foreign Youth Language and Culture Aesthetic Education Research Camp recently wrapped up at Shenzhen University.

The camp was jointly organized by the National Language Promotion Base at Shenzhen University and the Guangdong Provincial Aesthetic Education Master Studio.

Running from June 10 to Friday, the five-day camp brought together more than 50 participants representing 15 countries, including scholars and students from the University of London, international students from Shenzhen University, and volunteers.

The camp, designed to deepen participants’ appreciation for Chinese language and culture, exposed participants to traditional Chinese calligraphy, the rich heritage of indigo dyeing, and classical Chinese poetry.

As part of the camp, participants visited the university’s history museum to learn about its evolution over four decades. Additionally, participants were able to explore the Shenzhen Museum and the Twenty-Four Histories, a collection of historical books that date to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and are considered essential to understanding Chinese history.

Reflecting on the activities, Matthew Stephen Smith, a student from the University of London, described the experience as “exceptional.”

Discussing his interactions with his Chinese counterparts, he said, “The students [who] accompanied us left such a huge impression in such a short time, words can’t express my gratitude.”

“The array of activities, from calligraphy lessons to tea etiquette and wax painting, seamlessly bridged my existing knowledge of China with new experiences,” said Yara Alamin, also from the University of London.