International Youth Tour in Wuqing: Silk Road Youth Visit Ancient Village to Foster Cultural Exchange

Video produced by Guo Zhiyong

Recently, two international students from Nankai University—Wu Mofan from Tajikistan and Sun Na from Azerbaijan—traveled to Li Darenzhuang Village in Hebeitun Town, Wuqing District, for an immersive rural tour. Wandering through the ancient village's streets, the two Silk Road youths explored revolutionary history, experienced traditional folk customs, and enjoyed pastoral leisure. Through their youthful perspective, they witnessed the village's vibrant rural revitalization driven by the deep integration of culture, business, and tourism, writing a new chapter of cultural exchange.

International youth visit the Revolutionary Culture Experience Base in Wuqing District. Photo by Liu Ying

Exploring Revolutionary Roots and Traditional Tea Culture

Li Darenzhuang Village is a well-known revolutionary base and a thriving cultural tourism hub. The tour began at the Wuqing District Revolutionary Culture Experience Base. Viewing historical documents and artifacts, Wu Mofan and Sun Na listened to stories of revolutionary ancestors, gaining a deep understanding of the region's heritage and the spiritual foundation of Chinese villages.

Following this, the students participated in a traditional tea ceremony. By burning incense, brewing, and tasting tea, they savored the elegance of Chinese tea culture. This blend of dynamic historical learning and tranquil cultural appreciation allowed the students to fully experience the village's inclusive development.

Under the guidance of a tea master, the international youth learn Chinese tea art. Photo by Guo Zhiyong

Wu Mofan (left) and Sun Na take photos at the popular Li Daren Pastoral Homestay. Photo by Liu Ying

The international youth visit the characteristic rooms of the Li Daren Pastoral Homestay. Photo by Liu Ying

A Taste of Pastoral Life

The pastoral scenery is the most captivating aspect of Li Darenzhuang. Strolling through the popular Li Daren Pastoral Homestay, the visitors admired the picturesque white walls, black tiles, and quiet courtyards—a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern comfort. At the Village History Museum, they learned how Li Darenzhuang transformed from a traditional farming community into a modern village by revitalizing idle resources and upgrading its infrastructure.

The international youth play Chinese chess at the Village History Museum. Photo by Liu Ying

The village also offers family-friendly fun. At the "Tunxiaoxing" Family Park, Wu Mofan and Sun Na interacted with gentle animals and collected fresh eggs. The authentic rural experience continued at Hebeitun Farm, where they learned to cook traditional Chinese home-style dishes. By stir-frying scrambled eggs themselves, they felt the vibrant everyday atmosphere of Chinese food culture. The meal featured farm-to-table dishes, including the region's crisp, sweet local Tiepi (iron-skin) tomatoes, showcasing the area's agricultural strength.

Empowering Rural Revitalization Through Tourism

Today, Li Darenzhuang Village has moved beyond a single farming model. Relying on its ecological and cultural heritage, the village launched the "Picturesque Art Pastoral · Colorful Li Daren" brand, integrating revolutionary history, folk traditions, and specialty agriculture. By turning idle rural houses into high-quality homestays and improving tourism facilities, the village has become a popular short-getaway destination in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, effectively broadening villagers' income channels.

Wang Jutao, Publicity Member of the Hebeitun Town Party Committee, noted that the local government has made the characteristic cultural and tourism industry the core engine for comprehensive rural growth. To further stimulate rural tourism and promote local agriculture, Wang announced that Hebeitun Town will host a grand Tomato Harvest Market during the upcoming May Day holiday. The event will feature agricultural exhibitions, farming experiences, folk performances, and food tastings.

"We sincerely invite tourists from all over the world to visit Hebeitun... to pick specialty fruits, enjoy pastoral scenery, and immerse themselves in the unique charm of Tianjin’s suburban villages," Wang said.

This "International Youth Tour in Wuqing" serves as a bridge, allowing foreign students to deeply understand China's rural development and promoting cross-cultural mutual learning. Moving forward, Hebeitun Town will continue to deepen the integration of culture, business, and tourism, continuously writing a high-quality answer sheet for rural revitalization in the new era. (Text by Liu Yifei)