Last month, Wenzhou University (WZU) hosted two sessions of its Chinese Art and Culture Global Summer School, attracting 98 teenagers and educators from 11 countries including the United States, France, and the Netherlands. During each nine-day session, the program combined academic lectures, hands-on workshops, and cultural excursions to showcase China's intangible cultural heritage and strengthen international educational ties.

Decoding Cultural Essence Through Art

The summer school transformed abstract cultural concepts into tangible encounters. Lectures such as Interpretation of Chinese Traditional Culture unveiled the philosophy behind blue-and-white porcelain and Song Dynasty celadon, while photography workshops at a local film studio demonstrated the Taoist principle of "harmony between nature and humanity" through composition and lighting techniques.

In calligraphy classes, participants traced the evolution from Wang Xizhi’s flowing Lanting Xu to Yan Zhenqing’s bold regular script, while ink painting sessions revealed the shared roots of Chinese calligraphy and painting. "Writing the character ‘永’ with a brush felt like touching the pulse of a 5,000-year civilization," shared Carmen Fahner from the Netherlands.

Hands-On Heritage Revival

Traditional crafts bridged cultures. Students stitched leather cardholders, practiced Yueqing paper-cutting—a UNESCO-listed intangible heritage where intricate patterns decode ancient Ou people’s blessings—and dyed fabric with indigo using traditional techniques. At a movable-type printing workshop, they transformed poetry into blue-dyed wind chimes, merging classical art with contemporary creativity. "This handkerchief will tell the story of Chinese craftsmanship in my dorm," said Jack, an American participant, holding his tie-dye creation.

A Living Classroom: Ou Culture in Motion

Despite Typhoon Danas, the program’s warmth shone through—staff greeted soaked arrivals with towels and umbrellas, embodying Confucian hospitality. Field trips to the 14th-century residence of Liu Ji (popularly known as Liu Bowen) and the misty peaks of Yandang Mountain - a UNESCO Global Geopark - demonstrated "unity of nature and man." A nighttime cruise along the Ou River showcased Wenzhou’s evolution from an ancient trading port to a modern metropolis through a dazzling light show.

At a bonfire gathering, lion dances and tiehua (iron fireworks) ignited cross-cultural camaraderie. "My grandparents’ stories about hometowns came alive here," said Li Xiaoxiao, a Canadian-Chinese participant, touching the cobblestones of a 1,000-year-old village.

Global Resonance

From Hanfu attire to Tang Dynasty dance performances, participants embodied history. A Song-style tea ceremony, where they whisked matcha into frothy "snow," contrasted with a lively Little Apple singalong at the farewell party—proof that cultural exchange thrives in both tradition and spontaneity.

WZU’s Vision: Cultivating Global Ambassadors

Supported by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, the program aligns with China’s initiative to host 50,000 U.S. youth over five years and expand European youth exchanges. Wenzhou—a historic southeastern coastal city celebrated as China's craft capital, 2022 East Asian Culture Capital, and newly designated 'International Wetland City'—draws upon its rich maritime heritage and over 100 intangible cultural assets, from exquisite Ou porcelain to melodic Nanxi Opera, to build meaningful bridges across cultures.

"By integrating learning, creation, and reflection, we empower youth to become storytellers of Chinese culture," said a WZU spokesperson. Guided by its international education vision—"Amazing WZUers: Bringing the World to Wenzhou, Bridging Wenzhou with the World"—the university plans to expand these initiatives, enhancing its role in fostering "soft connectivity" under the Belt and Road Initiative while building a shared future through educational exchange.

(Photos courtesy of Wenzhou University)

Zheng Guojian is director of Wenzhou International Communication Center; Xiong Yong is deputy director of International Relations Office, Wenzhou University

21世纪英语教育传媒(简称“21世纪”)是中国日报社旗下教育产业