A cross-cultural exchange initiative brought 40 teachers and students from California-based Vistamar School to Qingdao Changjiang School in Jimo District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, on Thursday, opening a day of hands-on immersion into traditional Chinese culture and people-to-people connection.
Against the backdrop of growing interest in cultural exchange between young people from China and the United States, the visiting group got a rare opportunity to engage directly with centuries-old Chinese cultural practices. Participants tried their hand at two iconic Chinese folk arts: calligraphy, where they guided brush pens across rice paper to feel the rhythm and artistry of Chinese character writing, and paper-cutting, where they crafted intricate decorative patterns by hand. Later, they gathered to listen to and try playing the guzheng, a 2,500-year-old traditional Chinese string instrument known for its smooth, resonant tones that have shaped Chinese musical culture for millennia.
Beyond cultural exploration, the event also fostered casual friendship-building between young people from both countries. American students teamed up with their local Chinese peers for friendly basketball matches and joined martial arts sessions, learning basic forms of the traditional practice that connects physical movement to mental discipline.
The most anticipated and memorable part of the day was a joint dumpling-making session, where students from both nations gathered around tables, kneading dough, filling wrappers, and sharing stories and jokes as they worked. The casual, collaborative activity broke down cultural barriers, turning formal exchange into warm, personal connection.
This event is part of a broader push for youth-focused cross-cultural exchange between China and the U.S., designed to give young people first-hand experience of Chinese culture beyond what is presented in international media, and build grassroots connections between the next generations of the two countries. A video recording of the exchange is available to view, capturing participants’ experiences and reflections on the day. Zhou Meihan and Liu Qing contributed reporting to this piece.