From November 7th to 9th, Yuanpei College organized about 20 international students from Argentina, Kazakhstan, Canada, Malaysia, Mongolia and other countries to go to Suzhou, Jiangsu Province to carry out a three-day study and practice activity. With the strong support of Soochow University, this event helps international students deeply experience the unique charm of Suzhou as a famous historical and cultural city, feel the essence of traditional Chinese art and the modern development of Jiangnan water town, and further "understand China" in the unity of knowledge and action through academic lectures, historical monuments, museum field teaching and other forms.
November 7: Silk and bamboo convey love, flute rhyme Jiangnan On the afternoon of November 7, teachers and students arrived at the Tiancizhuang Campus of Soochow University. With the coordination of the Academic Affairs Office of Soochow University and the support of the School of Arts, teachers and students participated in the theme lecture "The sound of silk and bamboo is slow, and the sound of the flute remembers Jiangnan" delivered by Ms. Meng Xiaojie. Teacher Meng systematically explained the evolution and artistic characteristics of traditional musical instruments such as flute and flute in the context of Jiangnan silk and bamboo music, and explained the profound connection between music and Jiangnan humanistic spirit in combination with Suzhou's profound regional culture.
During the lecture, the Soochow University Student Art Troupe brought wonderful folk music ensemble performances to teachers and students, with musical instruments such as guzheng, erhu, dulcimer, bamboo flute and pipa complementing each other, and classic songs such as "High Mountains and Flowing Water", "Horse Racing" and "Ambush on Ten Sides" won bursts of applause. In the interactive session, international students tried playing musical instruments under the guidance of Teacher Meng and their classmates, and experienced the unique charm of traditional Chinese music. The Yuanpei international students said: "Through personal experience, we not only appreciated the beauty of Chinese music, but also deeply understood the cultural tradition of Chinese people 'conveying love through music'. "
November 8: Museum Visit, Garden Exploration On the morning of November 8, teachers and students went to Suzhou Museum to visit and study. The special exhibition of "Wudi Relics" in the museum systematically shows the evolution of Suzhou's civilization from the Neolithic to the Ming and Qing dynasties through precious cultural relics such as pottery, jade, calligraphy and painting. The international students had an in-depth understanding of Suzhou's historical heritage as the "hometown of fish and rice" and "the home of silk" in the professional explanation.
Subsequently, teachers and students strolled to the adjacent Humble Administrator's Garden and felt the gardening wisdom of the Ming Dynasty garden "although it was made by man, it was like a sky" in the pavilions, water pavilions, rockeries and winding paths. In the afternoon, teachers and students climbed Tiger Hill to visit historical sites such as Yunyan Temple Pagoda and Sword Pool. The profound cultural accumulation of Tiger Hill and Su Dongpo's estranged sentence "It is a pity not to visit Tiger Hill in Suzhou" gave the students a deeper understanding of Suzhou's cultural status.
November 9: Staying in the garden to observe each other, knowledge and action grow together On November 9, teachers and students went to the Lingering Garden, which is known as the "crown of the famous gardens in Wuzhong", a classical garden built in the Ming Dynasty with its exquisite gardening art and profound cultural heritage, showing the unique charm of traditional Chinese gardens for international students. Under the guidance of professional docents, teachers and students walked slowly along the winding corridor, savoring the ingenuity of each landscape. The docent focused on the gardening characteristics of the Lingering Garden - through the clever spatial layout, tourists can feel the infinite changes in the limited park. Through this visit, the students deeply understood the philosophical thought of "the unity of nature and man" and the unique oriental aesthetic pursuit contained in it, and had a more three-dimensional and profound understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
Through immersive cultural experience, the Suzhou study tour allowed international students to feel the breadth and depth of Chinese civilization in the elegant rhyme of silk and bamboo, garden art and historical relics. The event not only enhanced the understanding of traditional Chinese culture among international students, but also provided them with an intuitive window to understand the development of contemporary China.
4. Seek knowledge by doing and tell Chinese stories Yuanpei College has always adhered to the educational concept of "unity of knowledge and action", and actively built a practical platform for international students to have an in-depth understanding of China. This Suzhou study tour has injected new vitality into promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries and cultivating international talents who know China and friends. In the future, the college will continue to deepen the connotation of the "Zhixing Plan" and guide international students to understand the real, three-dimensional and comprehensive China while walking.
5 Excerpts from some students' impressions of Suzhou study tour This study trip to Suzhou gave me a more intuitive experience of the city's cultural temperament. Walking into Soochow University, the predecessor of Soochow University, the profound cultural heritage came to my face. In the lecture of the Conservatory of Music, we heard the teacher summarize the charm of Jiangnan music with "the sound of silk and bamboo is slow, and the sound of the flute remembers Jiangnan", as if it brought people into the water alley and stone bridges in an instant. The lecture not only introduced the structure and characteristics of Jiangnan silk and bamboo, but also made us realize that the reason why traditional music is moving is because it condenses local life and emotional memories behind it. ——Zheng Hongtao, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
Returning from Suzhou, my heart is uneasy. This trip is not for sightseeing, but more like an encounter with another way of life. In the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden, I realized what it means to "see the big in the small". We are always running in the boundless information, but our hearts have nowhere to rest; The Suzhou garden, on the other hand, is in a limited space, creating a wilderness for the spirit. The Suzhou Museum touched me even more. I.M. Pei did not reproduce the old Suzhou, but used modern language to tell the soul of the pink wall and dewa. I suddenly understood: tradition should not be an antique locked in a cabinet, but a living dialogue. It should respond to our present day and participate in our lives. ——Zheng Shiying, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
As a Chinese from Argentina, I have spent a year studying at Peking University, and my exploration of Chinese culture has never stopped. And this trip to Suzhou undoubtedly gives special meaning to this pursuit. Thanks to the teacher's careful organization, it not only took us into Subo and the Humble Administrator's Garden, and personally touched the elegance and historical weight of Jiangnan architecture, but also allowed me to meet a group of like-minded partners. ——Huang Jiale, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
Stepping into Suzhou, I know that the misty rain in Jiangnan is not a rumor - there is smoke and rain, in the south of the river. People stayed in Suzhou for three days, and it rained in Suzhou for three days. We strolled through the twilight rain, looking for the green grass in our dreams. In addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery of Suzhou, I also looked at its past deeds. Suzhou is an ancient city, and even the air is immersed in the warmth of time. And when I left, I realized that the beauty of Suzhou had already entered every leisurely step. ——Chen Yuxuan, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
This Suzhou study tour allowed me to have an in-depth understanding of the history of Suzhou and deeply appreciate the beauty of Suzhou. Under the explanation of the teachers of Soochow University, we learned about the classification of the roles of Shengdan Jing Mo Chou in Kunqu Opera, and the students of the Conservatory of Music played Guzheng, Pipa, Dizi, Erhu and other traditional Chinese musical instruments for us live. ——Li Yuwen, a 2025 international student of Yuanpei College
This trip also allowed me to understand the cultural fabric of Suzhou: Kunqu opera is a unique local cultural identity; And what I prefer the most is the warm and elegant Su embroidery. Every stitch and thread is fine and long, weaving the bond between the water town and silk, just like the misty rain in Jiangnan. ——Li Yunrong, a 2025 international student of Yuanpei College
This visit to Suzhou was a very special experience for me. I had never been to the ancient city in the south before, so I was really a little shocked when I saw the cold white buildings and clean and quiet streets of Suzhou when I got off the high-speed train. Jumping from the golden late autumn of Beijing to the green of Suzhou, it feels like traveling to ancient times, and the whole city exudes a soft and delicate temperament. ——Bai Yang, a 2025 international student of Yuanpei College
Leaving the familiar Beijing, the soothing rhythm of Suzhou made me really relax in the midterm pressure. During this visit, Soochow University, Suzhou Museum, as well as the landscapes of Tiger Hill, Humble Administrator's Garden, and Lingering Garden, all made me re-acquaint myself with the city. Although some of the content in the museum was not understood, the names of the bronzes pulled me back to the "Foundations of Ancient Chinese Culture" class, as if I was reviewing for an exam on the go. ——Lily, a 2024 international student at Yuanpei College
As someone who hasn't been to many places in China, I couldn't help but be excited when I learned that the destination of the Yuanpei International Student Study Tour was Suzhou. I have heard about the beautiful scenery and amazing food there, and I look forward to learning more about Chinese history through this window of Suzhou. ——Yang Yici, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
During your free time, you can get to know many Yuanpei international students more deeply. I feel very comfortable with them. We face similar challenges academically, so being able to honestly share our weaknesses and ways of coping with them has been rewarding. ——Luo Yingchuan, a 2024 international student of Yuanpei College
