Intl. students dive into Chinese characters

Video by Wang Haolan

Many stories exist about how Grain Rain, in the Chinese calendar, began. One popular tale says Huangdi, an ancient Chinese mythological emperor, started it in honor of Cang Jie, who created Chinese characters.

To promote cultural understanding, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School organized a workshop for 20 international students at NewWho Art Village in Shenzhen’s Longhua District yesterday.

The event aimed to foster appreciation for Chinese characters and boost cultural exchanges. The activity was organized by the school’s Center of General Education and its Yannan Calligraphy and Painting Society.

The students explored art studios and historical spots in the village with guidance from teachers and local artists. Alina Popova from Peking University HSBC Business School admired the village’s century-old primary school. “The school impresses me the most. I want to study here,” Popova told Shenzhen Daily.

Later, the students gathered in front of the primary school to create art by writing in Chinese characters and their own languages. Giancarlo di Rovasenda, an Italian student, shared his love for Chinese calligraphy as a way to understand different cultures. “I think one of the best ways to better understand a culture is through learning its characters,” said Rovasenda.

The students’ tour was captured by Shenzhen Daily photographer Wang Haolan.