Anastasiia Volkova, a Russian international student at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, has been discovering Shanghai through the lens of traditional Chinese culture, gaining firsthand insight into how the city preserves its heritage while embracing innovation.

In the video, Anastasiia visits an immersive exhibition inspired by a Song Dynasty (960–1279) painting, where she experiences traditional activities such as tea whisking and incense seal stamping. Through these practices, she says she felt the delicacy and refinement of classical Chinese arts, as well as their continuing relevance in a modern, globalized context.

[Video provided by WeChat account of SUFE International Cultural Exchange School]

Her journey also takes her to Yuyuan Garden, where she is impressed by the intricate craftsmanship of traditional gold jewelry. She learns that in Chinese culture, gold represents not only wealth, but also auspiciousness and trust. By blending these traditional meanings with contemporary design and advanced techniques, the art of gold jewelry has found renewed appeal among younger generations.

Anastasiia notes that it is Shanghai's openness and innovative spirit that allow traditional culture to thrive and attract people from around the world, giving the city its distinctive vitality.

The video is part of Young eyes on Shanghai, a 10-episode micro-documentary and bilingual interview series jointly produced by China News Service and the Shanghai International Cultural Association, featuring foreign residents sharing their perspectives on life in the city.

Sources: WeChat account of SUFE International Cultural Exchange School (ID: "SUFE-ICE"), chinanews.com.cn