In order to enrich campus life and help international students in China further understand the history and culture of the city where they study, on December 2, 2023, the School of Applied Foreign Languages and International Education of Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences organized all international students on campus to participate in Tianjin Cultural Tour. International students from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, Cambodia, Rwanda, Yemen and other countries walked into the museum to gain an in-depth understanding of Tianjin history and it’s 600-year cultural origins.
The first visiting point is Tianjin Museum. During the detailed introduction by the lecturer, the international students visited the permanent exhibitions with great interest and had an in-depth understanding of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings, jades, currency, stamps, Dunhuang posthumous documents, bamboo and wood tooth horns, local folk crafts, modern historical documents and other precious cultural relics. Looking back through the years, students can experience the high artistic imagination and creativity of the ancient Chinese people so as Tianjin's profound tradition of collecting cultural relics.
International students learn about Tianjin’s modern history
International students learn about rock specimens
Finally, the group of international students came to Yangliuqing Painting Museum and visited teachers Huo Qingyou and Huo Shulin, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage, to learn about the historical origins and production techniques of Yangliuqing paintings, and to experience the traditional woodblock New Year painting brushing and production process.
International students learn about the history of Yangliuqing Woodenblock Painting
New Year pictures were once an important carrier for Chinese people to bid farewell to the old year, welcome the new year, and pray for peace and prosperity. As one of the representatives of Chinese folk woodblock New Year pictures, Yangliuqing woodblock New Year pictures flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and have been passed down for more than 400 years. Under the teacher's explanation and guidance, the international students gained an in-depth understanding of this national-level intangible cultural heritage. Under the instruction of craftsman, international students made their own unique New Year pictures as souvenirs.
International students observe the coloring process of Yangliuqingqing paintings
International students practice the process of printing color plates
Cambodian student takes a group photo with Mr. Huo Qingyou (first from left), the inheritor of Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings
The Cultural Tour allowed the international students to learn through visits, and experience different knowledge outside of books. The historical and cultural heritage are important resources for telling Chinese stories and spreading the voice of China. It has played a positive role in providing international students with a deeper understanding of Chinese traditional culture, enhancing friendship between China and other countries around the world, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
