This year’s “Development of City and Culture Exchange Program” was held at Fengru College, Beihang University, from September 28th to October 2nd, 2024. Launched in 2019, this initiative is a collaboration among Choi Kai Yau College (University of Macau), Meng Xiancheng College (East China Normal University), Chongshi College (Xi’an Jiaotong University), and Fengru College (Beihang University). Every year, students and teachers from these institutions visit Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and Macau to exchange culture and knowledge.
The program delves into the cultural essence of these cities, allowing participants to immerse themselves in local atmospheres and enhancing their cultural literacy and exchange skills. Through mutual visits and social activities, it aims to instill patriotism, a global perspective, and a commitment to promoting Chinese traditional culture.
The group arrived in Beijing and received a warm welcome from hosts. The following day featured an opening ceremony, a themed salon, and visited the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The program also included educational tours, starting with Beihang University’s Shahe campus and the Center for Micro-Nano Innovation, where participants learned about cutting-edge research and technology. Students were divided into groups to explore Beijing’s cultural heritage, with visits to the China National Arts and Crafts Museum, Yuanmingyuan, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Olympic Forest Park, the Bird’s Nest, and the Water Cube. The closing ceremony featured presentations from three groups—The Humanistic Beijing, The Ancient Beijing, and The Nature Beijing. Staff representatives from each college provided feedback on the students’ presentation, and encouraging continued patriotic enthusiasm and the fostering of friendships among the four colleges.
The program concluded with heartfelt farewells, and students departed with a deeper understanding of Beijing’s cultural legacy and a renewed commitment to promoting Chinese traditional culture.
Text: Yu Shuchen
Group photo of ice breaking
Group photo at the front of Mu Tian Yu (The Great Wall)
Group photo at the front of Beihang University