A Dialogue Across Time and Space: Lanzhou University's 2025 International Summer Program Explores the Hexi Corridor's Unique Appeal

From July 14 to 23, teachers and students from 21 countries including the UK, Italy, USA, Canada, Germany, and Belgium gathered at Lanzhou University (LZU) to participate in the 2025 International Summer Program (ISP) themed Hexi Corridor: A Geographical Epic and Vision for the Future. Through immersive cultural experiences, the program aimed to build a bridge for better understanding of Western China and the Silk Road civilization, deepen international educational exchanges, and foster greater mutual understanding and friendship among young people worldwide, encouraging growth through cooperation.

A group photo of the ISP participants

Photo by LZU

The program featured a wide array of activities, including thematic lectures, cultural exchanges, and hands-on field experiences. Four students from Universidad Nebrija in Spain remarked during their visit to the Gansu Jiandu Museum, "Chinese characters are one of the most challenging parts of learning the Chinese language. The museum’s exhibitions gave us an intuitive sense of their beauty and profound cultural significance."

Students practicing Chinese martial arts

Photo by LZU

Riding sheepskin rafts across the Yellow River

Photo by LZU

Students learning Chinese calligraphy

Photo by LZU

During a special lecture titled The Role of Yaks in the Grassland Livestock System on the Asian Plateau by Professor Long Ruijun from the College of Ecology, LZU, Emily Geilenkotten from the University of Exeter and other students engaged in discussion with the professor on “the multifunctionality of yak grazing systems and their practical applications.” When students from different countries shouted the word “horse” in their native languages at the Shandan Army Horse Ranch, it felt like a deeper dialogue between civilizations was unfolding on the grassland.

Professor Long Ruijun giving a lecture

Photo by LZU

ISP students at the Shandan Army Horse Ranch

Photo by LZU

At the Guazhou Grottoes, a mural rich in Central Asian motifs resonated deeply with Aigerim, a student from Shakarim University in Kazakhstan: "These patterns look quite similar to those from my country. It was like an invisible thread linking my hometown to Guazhou from a thousand years ago. At this moment, I truly understood that the Silk Road is not an abstract concept, but a living story flowing through our shared memories."

Throughout the program, students also enjoyed traditional Chinese music and dance, and took part in intangible cultural heritage workshops to learn skills such as paper cutting and calligraphy. Matteo Fronduti from Durham University in the UK observed: “Though we are from different countries, our thoughts about the future, learning, music, art, and global issues are remarkably similar.”

Students visiting the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye

Photo by LZU

Cultural performance

Photo by LZU

More than a geographical journey, this international summer program became a profound experience in civilizational exchange. Teachers and students from 21 countries explored the rich historical heritage and stunning natural beauty of Gansu, gaining deeper insights into Chinese civilization. The program promoted direct dialogue and mutual understanding among people of diverse cultural backgrounds, sowing the seeds of lasting international friendship. (Text by Ma Xinyu)