From November 15^th to 18^th, 2014, School of International and Public Affairs and College of International Education of Jilin University organized a visit to Beijing for 46 international students sponsored by Confucius Institute Scholarship of Hanban from such countries as Russia, Argentina, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Ukraine. This activity is one of the series of cultural experience activities that Jilin University organizes for students sponsored by Confucius Institute Scholarship during the 2014-2015 academic year. The purpose is to enable these students to gain a clearer understanding of China’s history and culture and enhance their interest in learning the Chinese language.

These students visited Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters, Tian’anmen Square, the Palace Museum, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Zoo, Wangfujing and other historical sites with profound cultural meaning and modern scenic spots. Plus, they enjoyed the roasted duck and other local delicacies. Most of the participants had never been to Beijing before, so they were very excited and curious. In Hanban’s Chinese Culture Experience Center, the international students observed and learned about all kinds of items on display that were representative of the various Chinese cultural elements; they also tried on costumes of Peking Opera, played traditional music instruments, took a quiz on cultural common sense and tried calligraphy and painting and so on. They had endless fun and were fascinated by all these cultural experiences; during the tour, they were amazed by the solemnity of Tian’anmen Square, the magnificence of the Palace Museum and the unique artistic design of ancient architectural complexes such as the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven. Inspired by the Chinese saying “one who does not reach the Great Wall is not a true man”, the international students were not deterred by the coldness and climbed the Great Wall with great enthusiasm. They took many photos during the trip.

Traveling together, students from different countries had more communication and thus understood each other better. Dio, an Argentine student who came for advanced study in Chinese language, said: “Previously I only read about them in books. This time I visit them personally. I learned more about China’s history. This is an eye-opener for me. Also, I have made new friends. I believe this will be an unforgettable memory of my study in China.”

Towards the end, many international students said this activity allowed them to directly experience the Chinese culture and gain a deeper understanding regarding the teaching and international education of Chinese language. They thanked Hanban and Jilin University for providing this opportunity.