'Peony Cloud Classroom' connects world with Heze peonies

Students embark go on a virtual tour of the Peony Garden. [Photo by Huang Xiying for chinadaily.com.cn]

On April 18, Dingtao district, Heze, Shandong, in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest in Romania, launched the "Peony Cloud Classroom". 

This initiative led students of the Confucius Institute on a virtual tour of the Peony Garden, allowing them to experience the splendor of the blooming peonies from the seats of their chairs. 

The students felt as if they were personally visiting the Caozhou Garden. They followed a carefully planned tour route, attentively listening to the English explanations while admiring the peonies.

The students were enthralled by the peony sea, peony paintings, and peony-related handicrafts. Many expressed their desire to personally visit Heze in the future and experience the Heze International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival. 

After the virtual tour, Huang Xiying, a volunteer international Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute, organized a "Peony Discussion, Peony Painting" activity, giving them a better understanding of Chinese peony culture.

Through the activity, the students not only got to enjoy the beautiful peony scenery of spring but also developed a strong interest in Chinese flower culture. (Edited by Huang Junyao)