10 international students from Shenzhen University traveled to Tongren, Guizhou for the "Exploring Guizhou" Silk Road Youth Exchange Program, embarking on a cultural exploration journey through Tongren. During their brief itinerary, students from different countries personally experienced traditional crafts, ethnic dances, and natural landscapes of the Qiandongnan region. While discovering "Colorful Guizhou," they also gained a deeper understanding of the depth and warmth of Chinese culture.

During a flute class in Yuping, Baigorrria Lucia Andrea from Argentina carefully held a bamboo flute and played her first melody. With a smile, she said, "The flute sounds like it's telling a story — each melody carries different emotions. With the teacher's patient guidance, I can now play a complete song. This sense of achievement makes me so happy!"

During the afternoon Qiandongnan embroidery session, Soontornpornjaroen Jeeranun from Thailand expressed her amazement at the activity—slender silk threads danced at her fingertips, creating not just patterns, but also pieces of ethnic memory. Holding up the piece she had worked on all afternoon, her eyes sparkling, she said, "Every motif carries meaning. I will bring this back to Thailand to show my friends the beauty of China as I have seen it."

Aynur Agenjiyeva from Turkmenistan was particularly impressed by the Tujia "Money Pole Dance." As she moved to the rhythm and listened to the crisp sound of bamboo poles striking the ground, she felt completely immersed in the festive atmosphere. "I had studied ethnic minority culture in textbooks, but the real experience of dancing is entirely different," she said with a smile. "Culture truly has to be experienced firsthand."

During the nature exploration segment, Amanibagalwa Landry from the Democratic Republic of the Congo could hardly contain his excitement when mentioning Fanjingshan. As a key destination of the "Exploring Guizhou" program, Fanjingshan captivated the international students with its unique ecological landscape: the billion-year-old Mushroom Stone, the rolling sea of clouds, and the lively Guizhou golden monkeys — all helped them grasp the true meaning of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

"Previously, I'd only seen places like this in documentaries," said Saidmuratov Muhammadjon from Tajikistan, standing atop the mountain. "But only by truly being here do I understand what a 'fairyland' really looks like. The ecological conservation here is remarkable, and China's respect for nature has deeply impressed me. Even in the rain, we were determined to reach the summit!"

In a Guizhou classroom, a unique "Chinese + Cultural Skills Experience Course" was underway. This innovative course seamlessly blended the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine with e-commerce thinking, allowing international students from around the world to simultaneously learn the Chinese language while gaining deep insight into how China integrates tradition with modernity.

At Guizhou Health Vocational College and Tongren Vocational and Technical University, the students not only attended lectures on meridian theory and herbal efficacy but also personally practiced massage techniques and herbal formulation. Through these hands-on experiences, they gained tangible understanding of TCM's distinctive concept of "preventive treatment." The classroom buzzed with enthusiasm as students from different countries unanimously agreed: "This class showed us Traditional Chinese Medicine in action."

The e-commerce experience session was even more dynamic. Students worked in groups to discuss how to draft promotional proposals in Chinese, aiming to introduce local specialty products like Guizhou's Miao herbal medicine and Tongren matcha to overseas markets. Some team members focused on crafting brand stories, while others designed Chinese advertising slogans, with the collaborative discussions consistently sparking new creative ideas.

After the session, Uddin Md Borhan from Bangladesh said with a smile, "The massage experience was amazing! The teacher applied some pressure to my shoulders, and I felt relief almost instantly. I never realized Traditional Chinese Medicine was so practical — you can actually feel the physical changes. The e-commerce workshop was even more fascinating. Our team's proposal received praise from the instructor, and I'm genuinely thinking about promoting Guizhou's quality products back in my home country."

Through this program, the international students have not only enhanced their practical Chinese language skills but also gained a genuine appreciation for the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture and the vitality of modern industries. For them, this was far more than a language course—it was a profound integration of cultural immersion and hands-on experience.

At the closing ceremony, Qiuwang Zuo Dan from Brazil shared: "This is my second time participating in the 'Exploring Guizhou' program. Compared with my previous experience, new activities like ethnic dances, dragon dances, and Qiandongnan embroidery allowed me to touch the living pulse of Chinese culture. When my friends and I reached the Hongyun Golden Summit—the highest peak of Fanjingshan—even through the rain, I felt both awe and personal accomplishment. I recorded our climb and shared it on social media, and many friends asked which mountain we had conquered. That made me realize my role as a cultural bridge. While my individual capacity may be limited in sharing Guizhou's culture with everyone, when so many international students gather together, our collective impact becomes significant. I take pride in contributing to this cultural exchange and hope more people can come to understand China and appreciate the cultural richness of Guizhou."

From the delicate artistry of Qiandongnan embroidery to the haunting melodies of bamboo flutes, from the vibrant energy of ethnic dances to the majestic beauty of Fanjingshan, this Tongren journey has allowed Shenzhen University international students to not only deepen their understanding of Chinese culture, but also to personally experience the philosophy of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

More than a cultural "encounter," this journey was a profound meeting of hearts and minds.