On March 29th, School of International Education at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) organized an event for international students to visit Yucun in Anji, where they immersed themselves in spring ploughing culture through hands-on agricultural experiences and witnessed China's rural revitalization.
All international students, under the guidance of professional agricultural technicians, eagerly rolled up their sleeves, took up hoes, and enthusiastically participated in farming activities such as soil plowing, sowing, and wild vegetable picking. They not only learned crop cultivation techniques but also personally experienced the entire sowing process, gaining a deeper appreciation for the hard work and challenges faced by farmers.
During the event, the students made traditional Qingming Festival food—green rice dumplings (qing tuan)—and a special kind of food for the beginning of summer—wildfire rice. At lunchtime, the students sat together to enjoy the dishes they had made themselves, enjoying the joy and fulfillment that came from their labor. Many students expressed that the activity not only provided them the sense of accomplishment and happiness out of working, but also inspired them to cherish the fruits of labor and respect laborers. It also deepened their understanding of the hard work and wisdom of Chinese farmers, while offering insights into Chinese food culture and holiday traditions.
After that, international students visited Yucun, the birthplace of the "Two Mountains" Theory (“Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”). The green trees, clean streets, well-arranged houses, and vibrant rural tourism industry inspired the students' curiosity about the logic behind the beautiful rural construction. During the visit, the students carefully listened to the village's development history and success stories, and they praised China's rural revitalization policies, impressed by the significant changes and development brought to rural areas.
This innovative program by ZUST National Conditions Education Master Studio for international students synchronized cultural comprehension with emotional engagement through festival-themed labor education. Participants actively shared their experiences via overseas social media platforms, effectively fostering cross-cultural understanding.
In the future, ZUST will continue to explore more creative and effective activities to provide international students with more diverse and in-depth cultural exchange platforms, and helping them gain a deeper understanding of China.
Written by: Zhu Daoqing Wang Jiayi
Initial editor: Zhao Fang
Responsible editor: Wei Jianhua
Final editor: Xia Junshuo
