Global EditionASIA 中文雙語(yǔ)Fran?ais
Culture
Home / Culture / Cultural Exchange

Footprints in villages, friendships across the world

By MENG WENJIE and LI YINGQING in Kunming | China Daily | Updated: 2025-07-23 06:56
Share
Share - WeChat
International students take part in the water-splashing festival in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, during the Summer School of Global Development & Country and Region Studies, held from July 3 to 12. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Astrid Schnitzer-Skjonsberg first visited China in 2015 when she explored Beijing and was amazed by the scale and efficiency of its subway system. But her recent trip to Xishuangbanna in Southwest China's Yunnan province was an entirely different experience.

"Here in Xishuangbanna, I wake up to the sound of roosters," said Schnitzer-Skjonsberg, an Austrian PhD student. "It's fascinating to see two such distinct sides of China."

She was one of nearly 70 students from more than 13 countries — including China, Austria, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Brazil, and the United States — who took part in the Summer School of Global Development& Country and Region Studies, organized by China Agricultural University (CAU) from July 3 to 12.

The students spent the final days of the program visiting Dai ethnic villages in Xishuangbanna, where they explored local culture and observed rural revitalization efforts firsthand.

For Thiago Negrini Pedro, a 25-year-old Brazilian student at CAU, the traditional water-splashing festival stood out as a highlight.

"Many villagers — and even our professors — joined in the water-slashing," he said with a smile. "It was a fun event that brought everyone together."

At first, some students were hesitant, recalled Song Yuxuan, a 21-year-old CAU student. Unfamiliar with the tradition, they worried it might be seen as impolite. However, once they learned that, in Dai culture, splashing water is a symbol of blessings, they eagerly joined in.

"It was truly touching to see young people from different backgrounds laughing together and sharing sincere wishes," Song said.

Pedro was also struck by the region's traditional stilt houses and noted that many villagers were transforming them into guesthouses for tourists. "The old buildings are carefully preserved, and the new ones blend seamlessly with traditional architectural styles," he said.

Celine Sung, a 25-year-old recent graduate from Columbia University in New York City, was also impressed by how local customs coexisted with modern life in the villages.

"The people here have managed to preserve many aspects of their culture — from architecture and dance to daily customs — while also embracing a modern and comfortable lifestyle," she said.

Genuine connections

According to the local government of Yunnan, the three villages visited by the students — Mankongdai, Mankongmai, and Manluanzhan — have generated over 1.1 million yuan ($153,286) in revenue since launching a series of tourism initiatives in 2024.

One standout project is a cafe converted from an old water tower, which serves unique coffee blends made with local ingredients like tamarind and lemongrass.

Sung and her friends visited the cafe almost every day during their stay. "The cafe not only helps boost tourism and support the local economy, but it's also become a gathering spot for villagers," she said. "It's a perfect example of how modern spaces can integrate with traditional surroundings."

For Song, the significance of rural tourism goes beyond economic growth.

"It's about nurturing the spirit of the community," she said. "It empowers villagers, making them more confident and open in their own lives. At the same time, these projects are designed with local traditions in mind, ensuring that they retain their cultural identity."

Beyond sightseeing, the students formed genuine connections with local people.

Pedro met a young entrepreneur who had set up a hamburger stand next to the cafe, serving burgers with local flavors. The two even exchanged recipes.

"In China — and around the world — many young people leave their hometowns for big cities in search of better opportunities," Pedro said. "But if they can see a future in their own communities, many would choose to stay."

Sung recalled a memorable moment by the pool when a 10-year-old local boy approached her and her international friends to talk about the latest social media trends.

"We're all consuming the same content — whether in China, Brazil, the US, or Japan," she said. "That moment made me realize just how small and interconnected the world really is."

 

Most Popular
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US
主站蜘蛛池模板: 成人乱码一区二区三区AV| 波多野结衣巨女教师6| 国产精品午夜无码av体验区| 两个体校校草被c出水| 果冻传媒视频在线观看| 免费不卡在线观看av| 青青青国产精品国产精品美女| 国模吧双双大尺度炮交gogo| 中文字幕第315页| 欧美japanese孕交| 人人妻人人爽人人澡人人| 色一乱一伦一图一区二区精品| 国产真人无码作爱视频免费 | 国产毛片久久久久久国产毛片| a亚洲Va欧美va国产综合| 手机看片国产免费永久| 五月婷婷丁香在线| 火车上荫蒂添的好舒服视频| 四虎1515hh丶com| 黄色成年人视频| 国产精品毛片大码女人| jlzzjlzz亚洲乱熟在线播放| 日产亚洲一区二区三区| 亚洲av无码一区二区三区鸳鸯影院| 波多野结衣绝顶大高潮| 午夜dj在线观看免费高清在线| 象人族女人能吃得消吗| 国产深夜福利在线观看网站| 91频在线观看免费大全| 好吊色在线观看| 中文字幕精品一区二区| 日韩精品一区二区三区色欲av| 亚洲大香伊人蕉在人依线| 狠狠色噜噜狠狠狠狠色吗综合| 又硬又粗又大一区二区三区视频| 里番acg里番龙| 国产成人亚洲综合| 三级黄色毛片视频| 国产高清视频在线免费观看| bbw巨大丰满xxxx| 岛国在线观看视频|