Travel in China丨Wandering City Corners, Savoring Cultural China: Explore the Haining City with ZIBSers!

On this sunny weekend of March 11, everything felt different thanks to a “city roam.” Over 30 international students from various ZIBS programs set off from campus in groups early in the morning, full of anticipation and curiosity about the city of Haining, kicking off the spring chapter of “Me & China” series—Haining City Exploration.

Practicing Tai Chi, writing calligraphy, making lanterns, and playing the Touhu game… On March 11, over 30 international students from ZIBS experienced a wonderful time in Haining City Exploration field trip, part of the Me & China Series.

Though it’s called a “roam,” it was actually a team game. Students from different countries were grouped in teams of five, and they had to visit five famous spots in downtown Haining within a day to complete unique traditional cultural experience tasks. Now, follow their footsteps and see how this day unfolded!

GAME STARTED!

Dongshan Park

Dongshan Forest Park Square

“Artistic charm of water towns conveys heartfelt emotions, mountains and rivers embrace ancient allure.” Haijing’s Dongshan Park is not only a famous ecological park in the city but also enriched with cultural significance through the stories of historical figures like Gu Kuang, Liu Changqing, and Shi Dongshan. At the park’s west gate square, international students lined up and began their first task—learning Tai Chi.

Commencing stance, curling arm stroke, brushing knee and twisting step, parting the wild horse’s mane… These moves, to Master Yao Yiqi, a national Tai Chi champion with nearly fifteen years of martial arts experience, are second nature. But for our international students, they were as challenging as a high-difficulty gymnastics routine. Every movement’s detail and rhythm required precise control and careful handling. After several rounds of instruction, the students shed some of their initial shyness and gradually grasped the charm of traditional Chinese martial arts, stepping up one by one to showcase their progress.

Check out my moves, are they standard?

We are the ZIBS brotherhood 😊

Listening carefully!

So happy, hahaha 😍

As the saying goes, “The master teaches the trade, but the apprentice’s skill is self-made.” The same moves were interpreted in different ways by students from each group, but without exception, they all earned the master’s approval and successfully completed the task amidst laughter and joy.

Yan Fen Cottage

Leaving the park and walking along the river, you arrive at one of Haining’s famous landmarks and a provincial-level cultural heritage site—Yan Fen Cottage. As the only private classical library in the city, the cottage’s historical depth goes without saying. Less than half a year has passed since our last encounter with “Walking in China.” This time, Teacher Wang Ping from the Haining Museum had prepared the ink and brushes early, quietly awaiting the students’ arrival. Here, international students are required to complete calligraphy works based on set criteria, with the quality of their work determining their scores.

In traditional Chinese calligraphy, every stroke is full of vibrant charm. Can the international students accurately grasp the beauty of strength and softness in calligraphy? Before arriving here, everything was a question mark. For many students, this first attempt seems simple but is actually quite challenging. Every step—the way to hold the brush, the style of characters, controlling the ink, and the flow of each stroke—has its own intricacies.Nonetheless, the students still completed their works with great seriousness. Standing together, back against the spring sunlight, holding up their scrolls, they are the most beautiful sight.

Xu Bangda Art Gallery

Not far from the Thatched Cottage, a few turns around the corner lead to the Xu Bangda Art Gallery. Founded in 2003, the gallery exhibits the life works of the late Haining contemporary painter Xu Bangda and regularly hosts art exhibitions. Over the years, it has gradually become a cultural hub in Haining. Here, students are required to listen attentively to their teacher’s explanations about local culture, appreciate artistic works, and complete online quizzes.

Portraits of many modern literary and artistic masters, including Wang Guowei, Xu Zhimo, Cai Yuanpei, and Qi Baishi, are featured in the exhibited works. Gallery Director Zhang Yao patiently tells the students stories about these famous figures, shares knowledge of traditional calligraphy and painting, and demonstrates calligraphy on the spot. The students eagerly try their hand at writing their own Chinese names on rice paper.

After the lecture comes the intense quiz session—racing against time, guessing answers, and racking their brains. Everyone switches into “high-score mode.” Through this game, they not only deepen their understanding of Chinese calligraphy and painting but also get to know many masters—killing two birds with one stone!

Plum Garden

Where can you see plum blossoms in early spring? The answer is definitely Plum Garden. Haining Plum Garden Park is not only a tranquil spot for admiring plum blossoms amidst the city’s hustle and bustle, but also showcases the charm of Jiangnan garden culture with its unique layout and classical pavilions. International students came here to engage in a traditional Chinese game—pitch-pot.”Bullseye every time!”It’s no challenge for us!

As the name suggests, pitch-pot is about throwing arrows into a pot from a designated spot—the farther the distance and the more arrows you land, the higher your score. It looks like a simple game, but it really tests your hand-eye coordination.

But hey, we’re ZIBS international students—every throw is a hit. Guess when we get serious, you just can’t deny it!

Xiashi Colored-Lantern Museum

Xiashi Colored-Lantern Museum is located beside the old Nan Guan Xiang street, often bustling with crowds on weekends. The intangible cultural heritage that recently made its debut on the Spring Festival Gala—Haining’s “Xiashi Colored Lanterns”—naturally takes center stage here. The international students’ wonderful journey of exploring Haining will also conclude at this venue. However, the challenge at this stop is no small feat, as they need to work together as a team to complete a full lantern piece.

Although Master Wang Wenquan has been crafting Xiashi colored lanterns for over thirty years, teaching so many international students to make them is a first for him—and indeed a challenge. Carving, pasting, mounting, painting… each step requires focused concentration. Yet, even the complex procedures couldn’t stump the ZIBSers. In the final stage, it even turned into a creative showcase, with students eagerly leaving their ingenious marks on the lantern fabric, wrapping up the entire activity.

**Award moment!**For many international students who are new here, a trip to Haining city is quite a challenge. Not only does it test their teamwork, but it also requires basic survival skills like language communication and navigation. However, that doesn’t dampen the students’ enthusiasm. Let’s hear what some team leaders have to say!KALUHARAGE DASUN DE SILVA

iMF 2022 Master’s Student | Sri Lanka (Team 1 Leader)

The Haining City Exploration was the perfect mix of adventure and Chinese culture. I had the chance to make four new friends from different countries, and together we explored Haining, tackling one challenge after another. Making and designing a traditional Chinese lantern was my personal favorite moment, and I know many others loved it too. It was a long, hardworking day, but totally worth it because we tied for first place!ANGELINE ANGKAWIDJAJA
GCM 2021 Undergraduate Student | Indonesia | (Team 2 Leader)

During the Haining City Exploration activity, we learned some Chinese activities. All the activities they offered were fun and educational, making students enjoy learning with their friends. One of my favorite activities was decorating the lantern.HEBE LEYNE CARRERA ARIAS

GCM Class of 2022 Undergraduate, Ecuador (Team 3 Captain)

The Haining City Exploration organized by ZIBS was a really fun and useful experience for getting to know more about Haining. I really enjoyed being part of it. Practicing Tai Chi and making traditional lanterns were my favorite parts of the activity.CLEMENTIUS KENNETH

GCM 2022 Undergraduate Student, Indonesia (Team 4 Leader)

This exploration activity is fun and unique. I love that after this activity we get to know a lot more about Haining, the city I’m studying in. Learning calligraphy, making lanterns, and taking museum tours are activities we wouldn’t be experiencing if we didn’t join this exploration. Thank you, ZIBS, for this activity. I look forward to more in the future.DASTIN WU
GCM Class of 2021 Undergraduate, Indonesia (Team 5 Captain)

The Haining City Exploration was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. I got to explore Haining, visited places I didn’t know about before, and completed fun tasks like Tai Chi and calligraphy. Most importantly, I got to do all this with my friends, and of course, we had a great time!BROOKLYN AURELIA VERMINSHU

GCM Class of 2021 Undergraduate, Indonesia (Team 6 Leader)

The Haining City Exploration was a fascinating exploration of Chinese culture and history. When my team and I first arrived at Dongshan Park, the beauty of the park immediately captured our attention. We also had the opportunity to learn Tai Chi, which was a memorable experience for me. Making and creating our own lantern was one of the trip’s most enduring memories. Overall, the trip was a very educational and enjoyable experience. In addition to having the chance to interact with my group members in a specially inspiring environment, I learned so much about Chinese culture and history.

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The success of this event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our lovely ZIBS and ZJE student volunteers. Thank you!

If you still want more, follow the camera to check out the highlights from our teams during this event!

In the future, the “Walk in China” series will continue to create practical second-classroom activities for students to experience Chinese society and culture. Come see the real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China! Stay tuned.

Script: Zheng He

Editor: Li Songjiao

Responsible Editor: Chen Qilisha, Hong Zhenzhen

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• Sneak Peek at the Spring “Journey in China” Activities! ZIBS Me & China Series

• Journey in China • Duang! ZIBS Welcomes New International Faces Warm Welcome to Newcoming ZIBSers

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