Over 100 international students from the 2024 China-US Youth Exchange Camp embark on a cultural exploration journey to Daiyue district of Tai'an, Shandong province, on July 17. [Photo by Xuan Jiarui for chinadaily.com.cn]

Over 100 international students from the 2024 China-US Youth Exchange Camp embarked on a cultural exploration journey to Daiyue district of Tai'an, Shandong province, on July 17, to experience the extraordinary charm of traditional Chinese culture.

At the event, vivid traditional paper-cuttings, elegant calligraphy pieces, exquisite gourd paintings, and rich cultural rubbings, all of which are handmade intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items, dazzled the international guests.

The diverse and brightly colored gourd paintings, in particular, caught the attention of the international students. Under the guidance of local teachers, they delved into the cultural significance behind gourd painting, enthusiastically creating their own works.

Paper-cutting is an ancient Chinese traditional handicraft. The students also tried their hands at the folk art of paper-cutting, allowing them to feel the charm of the ancient city.

The event offered young people from across the globe a chance to immerse themselves in the beauty of handmade ICH items and further appreciate the richness of traditional Chinese culture.

After the activities concluded, all participants expressed satisfaction with the experience and said they hoped there would be more opportunities to experience more ICH items so that they can gain a deeper understanding of Chinese traditional culture.

The international students show a strong interest in gourd paintings. [Photo by Xuan Jiarui for chinadaily.com.cn]

The students try their hands at the folk art of paper-cutting, allowing them to feel the charm of the ancient city. [Photo by Xuan Jiarui for chinadaily.com.cn]