A group of teachers and students from Utah, USA, embarked on a profound cultural exploration across Zhenjiang, Nanjing, and Shanghai, organized by Dinuo International Education and Window to Philadelphia. This study journey, themed "The Canal as a Medium, Culture as a Bridge," not only allowed American youth to touch the pulse of Chinese culture but also wrote a vivid chapter in Sino-American people-to-people exchanges.

Immersive Traditional Crafts

In Zhenjiang, the "Vinegar Capital of China," students gathered around century-old vinegar vats to experience ancient brewing techniques firsthand. Upon learning that vinegar fermentation takes a full three years, they spontaneously calculated: "That’s equivalent to our entire high school journey!" At the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Hall, the Nobel laureate’s novel The Good Earth and its portrayal of Chinese farmers prompted reflections on the resonance between Eastern and Western cultures.

(American teachers and students visit the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Hall)

Youth Dialogue Through Intangible Heritage

The group visited Zhenjiang Jiangnan School for a cultural exchange event titled "When Utah Meets Zhenjiang: Intangible Heritage Lights Up New Horizons." The host school welcomed their guests with a folk ensemble performance (Rhyme) and a Chinese dance (Shang Ling Drum), followed by calligraphy workshops, immersive Chinese painting classes, and sugar-figure crafting sessions.

(American teachers and students engage in exchange activities at Zhenjiang Jiangnan School)

Nanjing: A Youthful Interpretation of Six Dynasties’ Legacy

"Just 30 minutes from Zhenjiang to Nanjing? That’s shorter than my daily commute!" Students marveled at the 306 km/h speed displayed on the high-speed train screens. A chorus of "Wow!" filled the carriage as the train crossed the Yangtze River Bridge.

(American teachers and students travel by high-speed rail and subway)

At Nanjing Ninghai High School, Chinese students guided their American peers through ink-wash painting on xuan paper, exploring the art’s poetic negative space, and joined them on the basketball court for Tai Chi movements that embodied softness within strength.

When Eastern aesthetics met Western perspectives, the gradations of ink became not just technique but soulful resonance; each Tai Chi posture transcended physical form to become a wordless dialogue. Through tradition as a medium, American participants felt the warmth of Chinese culture.

(Campus exchange activities at Nanjing Ninghai High School)

Shanghai: Mutual Inspiration in a Future City

The Bund Walk: Marveling at the Dazzling Metropolis

Shanghai, China’s glittering gem and a global metropolis, blends Eastern and Western wisdom. Strolling along the Bund observation deck, the American group was awestruck by the skyline of Pudong’s Lujiazui skyscrapers juxtaposed with Puxi’s historic architecture. The Shanghai leg deepened their understanding of the city as a window to China’s reform and opening-up, embracing the world with openness.

(American teachers and students at the Bund landmark)

Lacquer Art Encounters, Youth Connections

With lacquer fans as the medium and sincerity as the bridge, the group visited Shanghai Gezhi Junior High School for a unique cultural exchange. Students from both countries co-created traditional lacquer fans, discovering the charm of Eastern aesthetics through color and creativity, while one-on-one dialogues built trans-Pacific friendships.

(Exchange activities at Shanghai Gezhi Junior High School)

As the U.S. co-organizer, Window to Philadelphia emphasized: 

"We deliberately avoided ‘checklist tourism,’ opting instead for ‘school pairing + cultural workshops’ to foster organic understanding through collaborative creation."

"Zhenjiang’s vinegar taught me patience for beauty, Nanjing’s landscapes revealed the power of inclusivity, and Shanghai whispered—surprises always await around the corner."

— Collective reflections from participating students