Recently, the "Experience China" program, supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and organized by NPU (Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), successfully held a folk culture program in Xi'an and Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, under the theme of "Tracing Loess Roots." Centered around the theme of "Exploring Chinese History, Experiencing Folk Traditions, and Engaging with Chinese Culture," the program was designed to build a cross-cultural practice platform for Chinese and international students, promoting deeper integration of national education and cultural experiences. Chinese and international students from NPU gathered in Xi’an to explore cultural heritage and foster people-to-people bonds through a series of activities, including university history study sessions, intangible cultural heritage experiences, red culture education, traditional opera workshops, and interactive sessions along the ancient city wall, jointly tracing the roots of Chinese civilization, enhancing mutual understanding, and experiencing the vibrant momentum of Chinese-style modernization.
A "Special Class"：From the University History Museum to the Library
On the first day of the program, the participants attended a "special class" together. In the morning, they visited the NPU History Museum. CAPICENIO JASHER DAVE (Chinese name: Lu Junyu), an international student from NPU, served as the first international student docent in the museum's history. Standing in front of the exhibition board titled "Lamplight of Guluba," he told his Chinese and international classmates about NPU's journey of serving the nation through the flames of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. "From the oil lamps of Guluba to the large aircraft on the tarmac, NPU's commitment to serving the country has never stopped," he said in fluent Chinese.
In the afternoon, the participants came to the Red Study Room on the first floor of the University Library, where they studied works on China's economic system reform and development,Through these texts, they explored more than four decades of China’s reform and opening up and engaged in a thematic learning session on China’s rapid economic growth.
The departure ceremony was held at the "Cloud Library Pavilion" in the University Library. University leaders attended and delivered speeches, encouraging both Chinese and international students to strengthen cultural confidence through practice and tell China's story well.
Subsequently, the team held a book‑sharing session to thoroughly study and implement the important instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping on the development of the NPU Kazakhstan Branch Campus.. Chinese and international student representatives shared their learning insights against their respective cultural backgrounds, deepening their understanding of Chinese‑style modernization through intellectual exchanges.
From Yan'an to the World :Immersed in the Rich Traditions of Folk Culture
On July 3 and 4, participants traveled to Yan'an. Their first stop was the Yan'an Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall, which moves beyond the traditional model of static displays by offering immersive and interactive experiencesThe exhibition features a range of intangible cultural heritage items, including northern Shaanxi paper-cutting, clay sculptures, fabric collage paintings, shadow puppetry, storytelling, and Ansai waist drum performances. The team also visited the Yan'an Art Museum, where they appreciated prints and oil paintings from the Yan'an period, as well as works by artists of the Lu Xun Academy of Arts.
Afterward,participants engaged in watching and experiencing Ansai waist drum performances, learning to sing northern Shaanxi folk songs, trying out northern Shaanxi yangge dance, and practicing paper-cutting. International students from different countries picked up drumsticks and struck the Ansai waist drums on the Loess Plateau. "The first time I played the waist drum, I felt my whole body vibrating ,so this is the power of the Loess Plateau," said ALNURA SAILAUKHANKYZY (Chinese name: Xiao Yin), an international student from Kazakhstan.
The practice team ascended the Pagoda Hill – as the saying goes, "Only when you have climbed the Pagoda Hill can you say you have truly arrived in Yan'an" – and enjoyed a panoramic view of the city. Afterwards, the team visited the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall, a national first-class museum and a national patriotic education demonstration base, which systematically presents the revolutionary history of the "Thirteen Years in Yan'an." In the afternoon, the practice team entered the Intangible Cultural Heritage Street in Yan'an Red Street, visiting the New Year painting collection exhibition hall, the folk intangible cultural heritage exhibition hall, and the Great Production Museum. Amid over 2,000 northern Shaanxi New Year paintings and more than 3,000 agricultural tools and garments from the Yan'an period, they touched the vibrant spirit of that era.
A Century-Old Stage Meets New Voices– International Students Bring Fresh Energy to Qinqiang Opera
On July 5, participants visited Xi'an Yisu Society(Yisushe), century-old theater company founded in 1912, known as the "No. 1 Drama Troupe of Chinese Opera." As early as March 2023, NPU established a deep partnership with theYisu Society, jointly building a Qinqiang Opera heritage base. Starting in 2024, the two sides collaborated to launch the "Qin Rhythms at Nanshan· Old Tune Solo" Qinqiang Opera Festival. In the spring semester of 2026, international students entered the Qinqiang classroom for the first time. On that day, the team visited the Qinqiang Museum and learned Qinqiang singing styles and stage movements. International students from Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and other countries also experienced Qinqiang facial makeup painting and costume dressing. As students from different countries donned opera costumes and stepped onto the century-old stage, the melody of Qinqiang resounded through the ancient capital.
"Before, I only thought the glistening headpieces of Qinqiang female roles were particularly beautiful. It wasn't until I actually learned it that I realized a single scene could allow you to experience all the 'singing, reciting, acting, and acrobatics' of Qinqiang," said Grace Victoria Poo, an international student from Indonesia. This hands-on experience gave the team a profound appreciation of the deep artistry behind Qinqiang – "one minute on stage, ten years of practice off stage."
Singing on the City Wall – Youthful Voices Echo through a Millennium of History
The participants ascended the Xi'an City Wall. Originally built in the second year of Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty, this ancient city wall has a history of over 1,400 years and is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China.As night fell, the group arrived at Yongning Gate and engaged in an impromptu interactive performance with the Nanmen (South Gate) Band who regularly perform there. When the familiar melody began to play, Chinese and international students sang together: "There is a river in the distant East." The singing drew many citizens and tourists to stop and watch.
After the performance, the team members randomly interviewed a young child at the scene. "Did you hear the song the big brothers and sisters just sang? Did you like it?" The child nodded and said, "Yes! My favorite line is 'I grew up beneath the feet of the great dragon.'" When asked what the city wall looked like, the child thought for a moment, smiled, and said, "Like a super big hug!" This innocent conversation became the warmest moment of the evening.
Learning knows no borders, and action leads to far-reaching goals. With art as a bridge and culture as a bond, Chinese and international students together experienced a vivid lesson on China's national conditions on the Loess Plateau. In the future, the university will continue to strengthen the brand building of the "Chinese and International College Students Social Practice Week," enabling more international youth to experience the vibrant momentum of Chinese-style modernization, tell China's story well, spread China's voice, and paint a picture of integration between China and the world, where people's hearts are connected.
(Text: Zhu Haofang; Photo: Duan Shanshan; Editor :Wang Xinyue; Preliminary Reviewer :Duan Shanshan; Secondary Reviewer :Zhang Xi; Final Reviewer :Li Ziwei; Translators: Li Yiwen, Mei Leyun)
