Foreign students immerse themselves in traditional culture and gourd handicrafts in Laiwu

Recently, international students from six countries including Russia, France and South Korea at Shandong Normal University visited Zhanglijie Village in Laiwu District, Jinan for a cultural study tour. Combining study visits with intangible cultural heritage experiences, the event allowed the students to appreciate the charm of Beixin culture and Chinese farming civilization, boosting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

Guided by interpreters, international students visited Zhanglijie Village History Museum. Built on the provincial cultural relic protection site  - Zhanglijie Ruins, the museum displays Beixin culture, intangible cultural heritage, folk customs, red culture and village changes. They viewed exhibits and listened to explanations, spoke highly of the splendid Chinese civilization, and took photos to record the cultural highlights.

The students then went to the gourd culture experience  base to experience auspicious hand-painting gourds. Symbolizing blessings and folk traditions, the gourds were painted with Chinese characters and traditional patterns by the students under craftsmen’s guidance. The immersive experience enabled them to learn traditional skills and appreciate the beauty of farming civilization, planting the seeds of intangible cultural heritage inheritance in their hearts.

（sdchina.com）