Huanggang, Hubei: A Cultural Exchange Between Power Sector Youth and International Students

On April 23, the 31st World Book Day, young employees from State Grid Huanggang Power Supply Company and international student representatives from Hubei University of Economics sat together under the spring willows at Lingao Pavilion in Yi'ai Lake, Huangzhou, embarking on a cross-border cultural dialogue with books as the medium.

At the event, young people from the power sector introduced and interpreted the famous works of Su Shi, a writer and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty, in both Chinese and English, during his time in Huangzhou. They used excerpts from "Dongpo Zhilin" to recreate scenes of Su Shi farming in Dongpo and his night excursion to the Red Cliffs a thousand years ago. The international students followed along, reciting the verses word by word, and marveled at a replica of "The Cold Food Observance," exclaiming, "Chinese calligraphy is so beautiful."

The power sector youth introduced Su Shi's life to international students

In addition to reading Su Dongpo's poetry, the event also featured an intangible cultural heritage experience session. Wu Xueyan, a national-level inheritor of Huangmei Opera, an intangible cultural heritage, taught a selection from "The Heavenly Match" on site. The young employees from the power sector acted as "cultural guides," explaining Huanggang's history as the birthplace of Huangmei Opera while teaching their foreign friends the graceful water-sleeve movements of Huangmei Opera.

The power sector youth and international students experienced Chinese paper-cutting culture together

Song Wu, an inheritor of Huanggang paper-cutting, displayed works themed around "UHV towers" and "power grid line patrols." Everyone picked up scissors to try it for themselves, cutting out small towers and plum blossom patterns from red paper.

International students learned to sing Huangmei Opera

Anya, an international student from Malawi, said with a smile, "I want to take these books back with me to let more people know the stories of Dongpo and this lovely city." On this World Book Day, young people from different countries connected through culture, creating a heartwarming story of cultural exchange and mutual understanding. (Text/Photos by Qi Tao)