Immersive Cultural Experience Unlocks New Pathways for Civilizational Exchange

As autumn sunlight spilled over the ancient streets of Shabu, a quiet charm filled the air. Amid the fragrance of aged wood and clay, the “Celadon & Song Charm: Cultural Exchange for Civilizational Mutual Learning” event opened in full splendor. Taizhou’s Overseas Communication Ambassadors, including Zhang Fuhai and Ya Hui, together with international students from Taizhou University, immersed themselves in hands-on cultural experiences—unlocking fresh energy for cross-civilizational dialogue.

From listening to the thousand-year legacy of celadon craftsmanship to personally shaping clay in the “molding” stage of pottery making, the participants found themselves engaged in a dialogue that transcended time. Through touch, focus, and creation, they connected with the ingenuity of ancient Chinese artisans and the timeless elegance of celadon.

“It was my first time making celadon. To me, it wasn’t just an artistic practice—it felt like a soulful conversation with history,” said Zhang Fuhai, an Overseas Communication Ambassador from Bangladesh.

The journey continued at the entrance of Lushi Shabu Pastry Shop, where the group gathered around a stone mortar to experience the traditional making of Shabu rice cakes, a local intangible cultural heritage. Under the guidance of a master craftsman, participants took turns pounding glutinous rice with wooden mallets—each strike releasing laughter, curiosity, and the rhythm of tradition.

“Rice cake making is completely new to us. The process itself is fun and surprising, and the chewy texture is unforgettable,” Zhang added. “But what moved me most was the realness of it all—seeing the smoke, feeling the warmth, tasting the flavor. No video could capture that. This is the true magic of culture.”

At the event, three new cultural exchange bases were also inaugurated: the Huangyan Overseas Communication Ambassador Exchange Base, the Huangyan Overseas Chinese Cultural Exchange Base, and the Taizhou University International Student Study Base. These platforms will serve as important hubs for telling Huangyan’s stories to the world, nurturing a spiritual home for overseas Chinese, and opening new windows for international youth to understand the richness of Chinese civilization.