On December 7, the "May 4th Constitution" Historical Materials Exhibition Hall, together with the international education schools of universities in Hangzhou and an inheritor of the West Lake Silk Umbrella intangible cultural heritage, hosted "2025 Constitution Ambassadors — The First Lesson for International Students." More than 40 international students from over a dozen universities — including Zhejiang University, ZJSU, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering — gathered by West Lake. Through a three-dimensional experience of "studying history, walking the route, and making by hand," they immersed themselves in the historical depth and cultural warmth of China's Constitution, making the spirit of the rule of law a bridge between China and the world. Seven ZJSU international students from the School of Law took part, led by Xu Zhenghan, Vice Dean of the International Education College.
Revisiting the Founding Vision
Opening the event, Wang Yongxiang, Director of the "May 4th Constitution" Historical Materials Exhibition Hall, set out its core spirit: in keeping with this year's Constitution Week theme of "studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and bringing the Constitution closer to the people," constitutional education must combine historical depth with an international outlook. International students, he noted, are an important link between China's constitutional story and global understanding, underscoring the Hall's commitment to the international communication of the Constitution through concrete action.
Speaking as a faculty representative, Xu Zhenghan highlighted the event from the standpoint of school-museum cooperation to advance the internationalization of legal education. It is both a practical response to National Constitution Day's call to "bring the Constitution closer to the people" and an immersive platform for international students to understand the rule of law in China, he said — one that helps them read how China governs, and equips them to become bridges for sharing constitutional culture and promoting mutual learning between Chinese and foreign legal civilizations.
Then, led by bilingual docent Tong Kunlin, the students entered the Beishan Street site, viewing the restored office and living quarters where Comrade Mao Zedong once drafted the Constitution. Through precious exhibits such as the "West Lake Draft" materials and copies of telegrams, they gained a direct sense of the arduous process through which the "May 4th Constitution" crystallized the will of the people and laid the foundation of the rule of law.
Bringing the Constitution Closer to Life
To move beyond traditional ways of studying the Constitution, the event introduced an innovative "Walking the Constitution" route, echoing Constitution Week's call to "bring the Constitution closer to the people and to daily life." Students formed teams of three to five and walked along the shore of West Lake from Beishan Street to the Qixia Ridge site, passing cultural landmarks such as the Yue Fei Temple and the former residence of Huang Binhong. Guided by volunteers, they explored how the Constitution connects with historical and cultural preservation — from Article 22, under which "the state protects places of scenic and historical interest and precious cultural relics," to the legal safeguards behind the inscription of Liangzhu as a World Heritage site — weaving constitutional knowledge into the lakeside scenery. At the Qixia Ridge site, the students visited the exhibition "The Constitution Around Us" and watched the documentary "The Birth of New China's First Constitution."
Forging a Showcase for International Communication
A centerpiece of the day, the "intangible cultural heritage plus rule of law" hands-on workshop wove innovation and culture together with the communication of the Constitution. Focusing on the West Lake Silk Umbrella, a distinctive Hangzhou craft, the event invited Song Chao and Luo Shan, third-generation inheritors of the nationally protected West Lake Silk Umbrella tradition, to teach on site. As Song Chao walked students through the umbrella's 18 crafting steps, he linked each to the Constitution: "It is precisely the Constitution's protection of traditional culture that has allowed the West Lake Silk Umbrella to travel from near-extinction to the Asian Games and out into the world. That is a vivid example of the rule of law safeguarding cultural heritage."
Guided by the inheritors, the students tried their hand at the classic hand-painting technique used on the umbrellas, building up layered washes of legal-themed motifs such as the xiezhi (mythical beast of justice). Each finished piece is at once an intangible-heritage craft and a vehicle for sharing the spirit of the Constitution with the world.
As the event drew to a close, leaders of the Exhibition Hall presented the students with certificates as "2025 Constitution Ambassadors," encouraging them to become international communicators of the constitutional spirit. Students posed for photos with their works and certificates, and many immediately shared their reflections on social media, telling China's constitutional story under the hashtag #RuleOfLawSilkUmbrellaGoesGlobal#.
The event is part of the Exhibition Hall's innovative approach to Constitution Week and the "Constitution and Zhejiang" awareness month, and continues a program that since 2018 has grown from cultivating "young constitution ambassadors" to family-level outreach, and from cultural integration to international communication. ZJSU will strengthen its cooperation with the Exhibition Hall, deepen the development of its national-conditions education base, and keep innovating ways to promote the Constitution — so that the constitutional spirit travels across borders through ever more diverse channels and contributes the strength of the rule of law to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Student Reflections
Abrao Nancy (Germany)
I really loved how we were allowed to step into the very rooms that Mao worked and lived in. It felt like standing in historic times. Learning about his everyday life and how he took the time to first study all the existing constitutions from around the world before forming the Chinese Constitution was very interesting. I only wish I could already read Chinese to know what was written in some of the displayed documents; nonetheless, my respect for his effort has grown. As someone who did not know much about this history, it left a strong impression on me. It felt very meaningful.
Aigerim Turar (Kazakhstan)
Participating in today's event was a truly enriching and memorable experience for me. I had the opportunity to learn more about the foundations of China's Constitution and gain a deeper understanding of its historical development. Visiting the 1954 Constitution Archives Exhibition Hall was especially impactful, as it allowed me to see important documents and learn about the background of this significant period in China's legal history. The event was very well organized, informative, and engaging, and I sincerely appreciate the effort put into guiding international students through such an important topic. I am grateful for the chance to participate, and this experience has left me with a deeper appreciation of China's constitutional history.
