Five international students from Shanghai International Studies University participated in the 2025 "Silk Road for All Children" International Children's Literature Week, held in Wuyi, Zhejiang province, from Dec 6 to 7.

At the opening ceremony, the students immersed themselves in the cross-cultural fairy tale exchange. Shanti from Indonesia was impressed by China's renowned fairy tale writers, including Cao Wenxuan, whose works have received international awards. The exchange gave the students a fresh perspective on the charm of Chinese children's literature.

On the afternoon of Dec 6, the students participated in a fairy tale drama performance. Mai Ramadan Abdeltawab Abdelhamid from Egypt was drawn to the original plays infused with local elements. Despite language differences, she could understand the courage, family, and nature in Chinese fairy tales, which, like Egyptian legends, convey universal values.

In interactive exhibition areas such as Nanxia Market, the students exchanged reading experiences with young Chinese readers, discovering the role of fairy tales as an emotional bond.

The journey also featured an intangible cultural heritage experience session in Tantou Village on Dec 7. As a provincial-level historical and cultural village, Tantou not only preserves large-scale clusters of ancient architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), but also integrates traditional culture with modern development, evolving into a model for rural cultural tourism.

At the Wuzhou Kiln Experience Center, the students tried their hands at pottery making. Mai Ramadan Abdeltawab Abdelhamid reflected on her childhood, recalling how she often molded figurines from the clay of the Nile River. In Wuyi, she felt a quiet emotional connection that bridges time and place.

Participants also visited the She ethnic group's wedding customs exhibition hall, where they tried on traditional costumes, listened to local folk stories, and learned about the intricate patterns on the garments and the wedding rituals. Hasnaa Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed Samra from Egypt said that the journey deepened her understanding of China's cultural diversity and the enduring appeal of its traditional heritage.

Source: Official WeChat account of SISU Office of International Student Affairs (ID: "Study_in_SISU")