Last week, 335 overseas students at Tongji University’s International School traveled to Huangshan in east China’s Anhui Province, on a three-day trip intended to deepen their understanding of the Chinese culture. The excursion was sponsored by China Scholarship Council and local organizations.
Located about five to six hours by car from Shanghai, Huangshan is perhaps best known for its splendid mountainous landscape and enriched Hui-style culture and architectures. During the trip, students were taken to the antiqued Xidi Village, a tea garden, workshops and museums to expand their horizon of this centuries-old culture.
Many of my students just came to Shanghai three months ago. A historic city like Huangshan that boasts its natural landscape and cultural legacy, provide students with an opportunity to explore authentic Chinese culture.
——Lu Xin, deputy director of the school’s administration office
Xidi Village is listed as Worlds Culture Heritage by the UNESCO by virtue of the best-preserved Hui-style buildings, which feature up-turned eaves, black-tiled roofs and sophisticated wooden carvings.
It was really a discovery, new history, new culture and new things. China is huge, so in every new place we can find new stuff.
——Pier-Alexandre Grenier from Canada
In addition to architectures, the ink sticks and stones also enjoy a high status in Hui culture. Hu Kai Workshop has adhered to use natural materials and produce by hand for more than two centuries.
Local pine trees are the best materials to make greatest-level of ink sticks. Craftsmen fire the pine trees little by little, and then collect the ashes in a bowl. The ashes would go through 10 steps, and each of them costs workmen plenty of time.
In the workshop, students also watched craftsmen engrave ink stones, which are also a variety of renowned product that has had a nationwide fame for centuries.
Its an ancient civilization. Developing it from zero is something impressing. It helps us understanding Chinese culture and history, and let us keep learning.
——Grenier
In order to deepen students’ impression on Hui culture, the university even organized them to carve bamboo in a local museum. Huangshan boasts an abundance of bamboo, which is used to make sculptures and daily utensils.
Every student engraved a piece of bamboo strip on the site, and then they were strung together on a cord as an intact work sculptured with characters of “感知中国，汉传天下,” which literally means “knowing China, spreading Chinese culture.”
These bamboo sculptures are so beautiful. The craftsmen were born with gift of carving. For me, it is so difficult. It is my first trip here, it really helps me expand my mind and horizon.
——Hlapane Victor from South Africa
During the trip, organizers also arranged a tea-picking outing in a plantation belonging to local time-honored brand Xie Yuda. Tea trees were blooming when students arrived there. And the humid climate made the terraced tea garden shrouded with mist.
“I come from Canada. Landscape and nature is very important to me. Coming here away from city, seeing nature, watching birds and breathing fresh air is very good,”
——Grenier