To give international students a deeper appreciation of China's finest traditional culture and the unique spirit of the Spring Festival, the Zhejiang Provincial Steering Committee for International Student Education, together with the China National Silk Museum, launched an"Experience China" social-practice study tour on January 29 under the theme "Splendid Brocade: Discovering the Charm of theLunar New Year." More than 30 international students from universities across Zhejiang took part. Zhejiang Gongshang University(ZJSU) sent eight international students from France, Russia,Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and other countries.
Silk is a cultural calling card of China, and the culture of the Silk Road is among theb rightest gems of China's traditional heritage. The tour began with a guided walk through the museum by a professional docent. Students visited the permanent exhibition "Silk Road: Chinese Silk and the Silk Road," as well as the special exhibition "The Brocade Life: Art Works by Qian Xiaoping." From sericulture to reeling and weaving, from ancient Silk Road trade to modern silk-inspired design, vivid displays and precious relics offered an up-close view of several thousand years of Chinese silk civilization and the rich culture it embodies, and of the spirit of peace,cooperation, openness and inclusiveness carried along the Silk Road.Spellbound by the beauty of silk art, the students paused again and again to admire the exhibits and take photos.
In the hands-on session, the "Elegant Ornaments of Song Brocade" workshop let students experience first hand the refinement of traditional silk craftsmanship. Under patient guidance from the staff, they threaded needles, chose color combinations and crafted their own Song-brocade accessories. As each piece came together, their faces lit up with aclear sense of achievement. The "Auspicious Red Packet Rubbing"activity, a Spring Festival favorite, filled the room with holiday spirit. Holding rubbing tools, students learned to transfer cloud andzodiac motifs onto red envelopes, savoring a uniquely Chinese NewYear custom. Many said they would take these handmade blessings home to family and friends.
Built on silk culture and timed to the Lunar New Year, this study tour gave ZJSU'si nternational students an important window into China. It enriched their holiday experience, deepened their understanding of and appreciation for traditional Chinese culture, and built a solidbridge for people-to-people exchange. Going forward, ZJSU will continue to organize distinctive cultural-exchange activities to help international students settle into life in China and experience the appeal of Chinese culture.
Student Reflections
Dua (Pakistan)
During the visit, we saw the permanent exhibition "The Splendid Silk Road: Chinese Silk and the Silk Road," as well as the special exhibition "The Brocade Life: Works by Qian Xiaoping." These exhibits gave me a deeper understanding of the profound history and distinctive artistic value of Chinese silk, and of the important role it played incultural exchange along the Silk Road.
I especially loved the "Elegant Ornaments of Song Brocade" hands-on workshop and the auspicious-motif red packet rubbing. This practical experience brought me closer to traditional Chinese art in a creative way and left me with unforgettable memories. I am grateful to the university for this precious opportunity to learn about Chinese history, art and tradition in such a vivid, immersive way.
Mei Lin (Russia)
I found this silk exhibition truly wonderful. Not only was the content rich andi nformative, but the ancient Chinese silk artifacts on display openedmy eyes. The exquisite silk relics gave me a direct feel for the deep history and unique artistic value of Chinese silk, and a better understanding of the role silk played in cultural exchange along the Silk Road. What impressed me most was learning on site about the ancient weaving techniques: each step was elaborate and painstaking,the craftsmanship superb. You could really feel the dedication and wisdom behind these traditional crafts — it was breathtaking!
