Global youth discover Hongkou's rich heritage

english.shanghai.gov.cn| April 22, 2025

A group of 22 young people from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other countries embarked on a cultural journey in Guangzhong Road subdistrict in Hongkou district, Shanghai on April 15.

Their first stop was the Qingyun Bookstore, where the visitors were welcomed with a captivating demonstration by Shi Ping, an expert of the intangible cultural heritage item of Chinese paper-cutting. With deft precision, she transformed a simple piece of red paper into a lively little snake in just two minutes.

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Expats try their hands at paper-cutting under the guidance of Shi Ping. [Photo/Publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee]

Tomas, a student from the University of Cambridge, expressed his amazement, saying, "I had only seen paper-cutting in documentaries before, and I never imagined I could create such exquisite work myself".

Meanwhile, Emma from London, a social media influencer with over 200,000 followers, commented on the blend of traditional charm and modern style in Chinese paper-cutting. She plans to share photos of her work with her followers.

The next stop of their journey was a community health service center, where they were introduced to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. The visitors sampled health teas and experienced basic practices such as pulse-taking, massage, and acupuncture.

Max, who received a shoulder massage, was impressed by the results, noting that after just 15 minutes, he could move his neck more freely. He praised the convenience of Hongkou's community medical services, emphasizing the ease of access.

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Expats experience traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis. [Photo/Publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee]

The cultural exploration concluded with a visit to a local community canteen, where the group savored authentic local dishes, including vegetable rice, spicy tofu, and sweet and sour pork.

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Expats enjoy a local lunch. [Photo/Publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee]

 

Source: Official WeChat account of the publicity department of the CPC Hongkou district committee at "shhongkou"