My journey exploring Chinese culture and tech innovation at HEBUT

After wrapping up a three-month exchange program at the Finland Campus of Hebei University of Technology, I, alongside peers from nine other nations, including Finland, Egypt, Pakistan and Peru, carry a fully renewed, firsthand understanding of China's timeless cultural heritage and booming technological innovation.

This immersive summer journey allowed me to witness how ancient Chinese traditions and cutting-edge technologies advance side by side, an eye-opening reality far beyond anything I could learn online.

This year marks the fourth session of the university's summer exchange program. At the opening ceremony, Chen Hongyan, vice-president of the university, delivered a welcome address and shared her expectations for overseas participants.

She noted that the program has developed steadily over the years and has welcomed more than 40 international students, building a lasting bridge for cross-cultural friendship and communication between the university and the world.

She encouraged us to maintain an open mind to experience the integration of China's ancient traditions and modern development, cherish the valuable learning opportunities to improve comprehensive abilities through practical courses, and serve as youth ambassadors to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between countries.

The program arranged a rich array of traditional Chinese cultural activities. We took courses on Chinese culture, tai chi and traditional cuisine, and learned to make Shibajie fried dough twists, a treasured local intangible cultural heritage. We visited the Cangzhou Grand Canal Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum to explore local heritage protection practices.

The campus also organized exciting dragon boat races, allowing us to experience distinctive Chinese festive culture and team spirit. These immersive experiences helped me cast aside stereotypes and truly appreciate the charm of Chinese civilization.

The program's integration of cultural heritage and technological innovation left me with the deepest impression. The university's featured AI+ Project courses guided us to apply theoretical knowledge to innovative practice. Under teachers' instruction, we completed the whole process of developing an AI intelligent bird feeder with bird recognition functions, including 3D printing, hardware installation, coding and AI model deployment. We also practiced assembling and debugging Bluetooth speakers. Field trips to local new energy enterprises further broadened our horizons and let us witness the robust growth of China's tech and new energy industries.

As a Romanian student, I deeply appreciate the university's practice-focused teaching model. Different from the theory-centered education in my home country, the university provides well-equipped laboratories and abundant innovation resources, helping students turn creative ideas into practical tech achievements. I was also greatly impressed by China's advanced infrastructure and efficient urban construction.

My fellow participants also shared inspiring views. Finnish student Julius said on-site cultural and tech experiences in China are far more valuable than scattered online information, and the project-based AI training has greatly inspired his academic research.

Egyptian student Mohamed noted that China's persistent focus on education and traditional craft inheritance drives its continuous technological progress, perfectly reflecting the program's core concept of integrating tradition with modern innovation.

This three-month program has painted a vivid and authentic picture of modern China for global youth. The perfect integration of profound traditional culture and cutting-edge technology has renewed my understanding of China's development and cultural confidence. It has enhanced our practical and innovative capabilities while deepening international youth friendship.

We will take our precious China experiences back home, share real Chinese stories, and continue to serve as bridges for global cultural and educational exchanges.

The author is a Romanian international student participating in the summer cultural and technological innovation exchange program at Hebei University of Technology.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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