French students explore Hunan's cultural treasures

A group of French secondary school students recently embarked on a cultural exchange journey in Changsha, Hunan province, for a cultural exchange program that blended traditional Chinese arts, industrial innovation and rural revitalization experiences.

China's Center for Language Education and Cooperation and France's Chinese Learning and Testing Center co-organized the trip for 20 participants, students and teachers, to immerse themselves in hands-on cultural activities and historical exploration.

At Changsha County No 1 Middle School, the students learned Chinese calligraphy by writing the Chinese character fu, which means good fortune. The students described the character as a heartfelt gift for enduring Sino-French friendship. In a Tai Chi session, they joined Chinese peers to practice the 24-form routine, mimicking the flowing movements with focused expressions.

Visits to Broad Group and Sany Heavy Industry's smart factory allowed them to witness advanced manufacturing technologies firsthand, with students exclaiming "Amazing!" and "Fascinating!" during the tours.

The delegation explored bamboo weaving in Qingshanpu town, where 17-year-old Carolin Pius Josephs crafted a bamboo wind chime. "It's incredible to create these traditional crafts myself rather than just seeing them in museums," she said, expressing her determination to continue Chinese language studies after passing HSK Level 1.

A visit to the former residence of Li Weihan, a key figure in China's early communist movement who studied in Montargis during the 1919 Work-Study Program, highlighted historical bilateral ties.