On September 16, 2025, 141 undergraduate freshmen gathered at the Maoyuan Activity Center of the Wenchang Campus of China University of Mining and Technology to participate in a sharing session.
This event invited Chang Xiaodan — an alumna of the 2002 cohort majoring in Radio and Television Journalism at China University of Mining and Technology, as well as a senior media professional and host — who, with the theme of “Encountering Xuzhou”, guided the 2025 undergraduate freshmen to gain an in-depth understanding of the unique charm of Xuzhou.
This sharing session centered on four parts: “The History of Xuzhou’s Han Culture”, “Must-Visit Scenic Spots in Xuzhou”, “Xuzhou Cuisine” and “Xuzhou’s Unique Features”.
Chang Xiaodan first introduced that as the birthplace of the Han culture of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties, Xuzhou is where the Yellow River Culture, Qilu Culture, Jingchu Culture and Wuyue Culture converge — a fusion that gave rise to the splendid Han culture. Moreover, the numerous cultural relics unearthed from Han tombs are comparable to an “Encyclopedia of the Han Dynasty”.
Subsequently, in the segment of “Must-Visit Scenic Spots in Xuzhou”, she listed attractions including Guishan Han Tomb, Xuzhou Museum and Yunlong Lake Scenic Area. When talking about “Xuzhou Cuisine”, she provided a detailed introduction to the daily delicacies of Xuzhou locals, such as Pot Chicken , Braised Pork Belly (Bazi Rou) and fried buns with meat or vegetables (Jian bao). She told the students that these foods not only tantalize the taste buds, but also carry the weight of Xuzhou's catering culture and the warmth of its street life.
Finally, in the part of “Xuzhou’s Unique Features”, she mentioned that Xuzhou is home to abundant intangible cultural heritage. From the creation of traditional handicrafts to folk performances, these traditional skills have been passed down through generations, sustaining the cultural context of Xuzhou.
This sharing session allowed the 2025 cohort of undergraduate freshmen to gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the city of Xuzhou. Through vivid storytelling and rich cases, Chang Xiaodan opened a window for everyone to get to know Xuzhou, and also ignited the students’ enthusiasm for exploring Xuzhou’s regional culture.
Photos by: Yang Congcong, Ding guoqing
Text by: Yang Congcong, Ding guoqing
Reviewed by: Fang Kun
