Getting a modern take on China

In contrast, László Erik Kovács from Hungary deliberately embarked on his journey of learning Chinese at the age of 20. "I was entirely self-taught," he said very proudly. 

Kovács, 45, serves as a secretary at the Confucius Institute at the University of Debrecen, located in the Hungarian town of Debrecen. He pointed out that the university hosts the largest number of Chinese students in Hungary, enrolling over 500 new Chinese students every year. This environment has fostered cultural exchange, arousing interest among Hungarian students in different elements of Chinese culture, such as calligraphy and tai chi.

Despite his daily engagement with Chinese culture, however, Kovács himself had never been to China before — until now.

To facilitate this program, the institute and the university established a partnership with BISU several years ago involving personnel exchanges.

The program's daily schedule typically consists of morning lectures followed by afternoon field trips, ensuring an in-depth learning experience. For instance, when morning lectures introduce China's modernization, the subsequent trips provide tangible and relative experiences — like visits to the 12345 service hotline call center, which facilitates urban residents' interactions with specific service departments, and expeditions to the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province via high-speed train.

"We strive to shape our lectures with a foundation in general education to arouse students' curiosity. Our approach emphasizes relatable examples over didactic instruction," said Zhan Gong, PhD, a teacher at BISU who was one of the program's organizers and lecturers.

The experience was profoundly enlightening for the participants.

When arriving in Beijing, for example, Krasikova hadn't anticipated the level of modernization she would encounter in the country, showing rapid change since her visit in 2017.

"China has undergone remarkable changes. The public transportation is incredibly efficient. Whenever an issue arises, a simple call to 12345 brings assistance," she said. "While Moscow also boasts convenience in transportation, we lack a hotline of this nature. It's a significant distinction for me."

Kovács found himself astonished by China's ability to run efficiently despite its large population of over 1.4 billion — a sharp contrast to Hungary's 9.6 million.

"China operates with meticulous plans, such as the Five-Year Plan. Even more impressive is the consistent realization of these plans. Conveying these intricate planning methods to Europeans is quite challenging," he said.