Twenty-seven students from Tongji University, hailing from 16 countries and regions including Germany, Italy, France, and the United States, explored Huangshan in Anhui province from March 7 to 9.

On March 7, the students made their way to Hongcun village, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its resemblance to the villages depicted in Chinese paintings.

Surrounded by white-walled and black-tiled buildings, the students experienced the intricate design and rich cultural heritage of Anhui-style architecture.

Their journey continued with a visit to the Ancestral Hall of the Wangs, a grand and intricately carved structure from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The hall embodies the clan values and the traditional virtues of filial piety deeply rooted in local culture.

The following day, the students traveled to Yixian county to explore the time-honored Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory. Under the guidance of intangible cultural heritage artisans, they experienced the process of creating Anhui-style ink, learned the art of gold tracing on ink, and tried their hand at carving inkstones.

On March 9, they visited Huangshan University for academic exchanges and cultural exploration.

In a tea ceremony class, a tea master revealed the essence of Chinese tea culture and demonstrated the complete tea-making process, from warming the cup and adding tea leaves, to pouring water, and serving.

The students also engaged in a cuisine workshop, where they tried to prepare the traditional Anhui dish chou gui yu, or stinky mandarin fish. The dish's distinctive flavor made for an unforgettable culinary experience.

Source: Official WeChat account of Tongji University Office for International Students at "isotju"