Recently, the South China Agricultural University (SCAU) hosted a series of events for overseas Chinese teenagers to experience agricultural traditions.
Teenagers sign their names at the welcoming ceremony (Photo provided by South China Agricultural University)
At the university-curated South China Agricultural Museum, the teenagers got to know about ancient farming tools and techniques. After that, two workshops on sericulture and pressed flower making art were given, where the teenagers learned how to operate the ancient silk reeling machines and make their own pressed flower bookmarks.
Two girls look at the exhibits at the South China Agricultural Museum (Photo provided by South China Agricultural University)
Two boys learn how to operate the ancient silk reeling machine (Photo provided by South China Agricultural University)
A girl works on her pressed flower bookmark (Photo provided by South China Agricultural University)
Jessica Lou, a girl from the US, found the events quite fun and interesting as they provided her with an opportunity to learn more about Chinese history and culture.
The events also offered many new experiences and a fresh perspective on traditional Chinese agriculture, said Yu Ivar Yongqiang from Belgium, who added that he had taken a liking to the ancient crafts.
The visit to SCAU is part of a summer trip that has brought together nearly 70 overseas Chinese teenagers from Jamaica, Belgium, the US, the UK, and more to Guangdong.
Tina Huang, the team leader of teenagers from Belgium, whose daughter Lillie is also on the trip, thought the trip would be mind-blowing for the children. "We don't really have many opportunities to learn about the real China as the media's reports are usually one-sided," she said.
"And what the children are looking for on the trip is their roots, their cultural heritage, and ultimately their identities," Huang added.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Editor | Nan, James
Photo | South China Agricultural University
