More than 600 students from over 40 countries participating in the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) Cross-Campus Playshop for Language and Cultural Exchange (PLACE) Summer Camp 2026 immersed themselves in traditional Chinese calligraphy and lacquer fan making at Guangzhou's People's Park in the afternoon and took in the city's glittering skyline on a Pearl River night cruise on August 14, 2026.
The summer camp, which runs from August 8 to 21 and is part of the "Global Youth Explore Guangzhou 2026" series, brings together over 400 incoming freshmen from HKUST and HKUST (Guangzhou), alongside 160 international students.
The initiative, co-organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality and HKUST (Guangzhou), aims to help young people from around the globe understand Guangzhou's rich history, modern development and cultural vitality through immersive experiences.
At People's Park, students tried their hands at calligraphy and the traditional craft of lacquer fan making under the guidance of local cultural instructors. Matti Grendka, one of the campers, said he was inspired to try calligraphy after watching others.
"I thought it looked very fun, so I wanted to try it as well. And they told me that's the character for love," he said, adding that mastering the strokes proved challenging: "It was very difficult to get all the strokes. And also they have a specific order."
Camper Rune Sander is visiting Asia for the first time. He was particularly struck by Guangzhou's digital lifestyle. "I think the style of living is quite high-tech to me. Everything is quite digital," he said. "By the time I adapted to it, I really like it."
He also enjoyed exchanging ideas with his Chinese roommates, discussing topics such as education systems. "I really like the exchange, like having different points of view on everything. I didn't really have a picture in my mind about China before, and now it starts taking shape and I can get a feeling about how people live here."
Camper Maria Mutova made a lacquer fan as a souvenir for her parents, using red, green and gold, with her choice of gold inspired by a professor's explanation of the color's cultural significance in China.
"I really enjoy doing it. Actually this is a gift for my parents. I did it for them. I think they will like it," she said.
The Pearl River night cruise offered spectacular views of Guangzhou's illuminated skyline, including the iconic Canton Tower. For Henri Schulz, a camper celebrating his 22nd birthday, the experience was particularly memorable.
"Today is my birthday, and I am really happy to spend my 22nd birthday on the Pearl River cruise. It's like the perfect birthday gift with the skyline of Guangzhou and the Canton Tower. I love it with all my new friends here," he said, describing the night view as "crazy."
His new friends at the camp, Sebastian Soto and Dominions Zefyros Stavropoulos, raised a toast to him on board. "We wish you happiness, and we hope you have a great time in Guangzhou," they said.
The three, who met at the camp and bonded during a bike ride, agreed that two weeks in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is not nearly enough to experience everything. As Stavropoulos said, "I have great plans for my two weeks in China. Two weeks isn't enough to really get the experience."
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Video | Xu Anrui
Photo | Guo Chuhua
