To deepen international students’ understanding of China’s natural and cultural heritage, on March 22, 2025, our college organized a cultural perception activity titled “Landscape Enlightenment · Civilization Dialogue” for 40 students from approximately 20 countries. The group visited Huangcangyu National Forest Park and the ancient Tianmen Temple, engaging in ecological discovery, intangible cultural heritage practices, and Zen-inspired experiences to foster cultural exchange between China and other nations.
At Huangcangyu National Forest Park, the students hiked through pristine forest trails, observed rare plants such as dove trees and Chinese yews, and listened to forest rangers explain China’s ecological conservation philosophy. MD ZAHIRUL ISLAM, a Bangladeshi student, marveled: “As I entered Huangcangyu National Forest Park, my phone signal gradually faded, replaced by endless waves of emerald pines and glimpses of ancient temple eaves. As a student fascinated by Eastern culture, I’ve read about ‘heaven and man are united as one’ countless times in textbooks. This time, my hands finally touched the warmth of this concept.”
In the afternoon, the students visited Tianmen Temple, embarking on a cultural journey amid morning bells and evening drums. A tour guide led the international students through the Song Dynasty main hall and clusters of cliffside stone carvings, elaborating on the spiritual essence of “Zen and tea as one.” ASEL, a student from Kyrgyz Republic, shared: “The temple’s serenity allowed me to let go of my restlessness. I’ve come to understand the significance of self-cultivation and inner refinement in Eastern culture. Now I realize that the chasm of cultural differences can ultimately be crossed through genuine experiences and thoughtful reflection.”
By integrating nature education with traditional humanities, this activity allowed students to interpret China from multifaceted perspectives. Moving forward, our college will continue developing “ecology + culture” study routes to develop international students as grassroots ambassadors of cross-civilizational dialogue.
Text by: Guo Renjie
Photos by: MOHAMMAD
Reviewed by: Li Honghai
