Recently, 20 international students from Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (HNUCM), coming from more than 10 countries including Morocco, South Sudan, Pakistan, and Malaysia, visited Bairuopu Town, Xiangjiang New Area, Changsha City. They conducted surveys and took part in cultural activities and other activities to promote science and technology and information on health in the countryside.

International students take a group photo at the Rural Maker Service Center at Bairuopu Town. (Photo provided by HNUCM)

Hunan's rural areas, with smooth highways, chic courtyards, vibrant fields, and characteristic agricultural and tourism industries, have been eye-openers for these foreign friends who have been in China for less than a year.

Their first stop was the CPC Service Center for the Public of Guangming Village, Bairuopu Town. "Here you can get a glimpse of the modern agricultural garden," said Yi Kai, a "post-00" resident of Guangming Village and a HNUCM student. He introduced his hometown to the international students in fluent English and warmly invited them to taste organic green tea.

Listening to the explanations of rural promoters, the international students visited various courtyards to further understand the development of China's rural areas. "Although our country is not economically developed, it is very rich in agricultural resources," said an international student from South Sudan. He showed great interest in China's agricultural modernization and carefully recorded examples of rural tourism, and education-agriculture integration.

A Moroccan student had a lively discussion with the rural makers, exchanging ideas on upgrading agricultural industry and basic education in the countryside from an international perspective. "From the ecological environment to the infrastructure, the countryside here is so 'modern' everywhere," he said.

"Perceiving, experiencing, and understanding China, international students come to study in China because they want to understand China in a more comprehensive manner," said HNUCM Vice President Liu Hongxiang. He noted that the university encourages international students to learn about China through field visits and real-life experiences, hoping they will share good stories about China's rural revitalization from an international perspective.

Yi Kai (R) shows an international student the organic green vegetables being dried. (Photo provided by HNUCM)

The twenty international students also staged a unique "Rural Concert" with local villagers. They will carry out the "Bringing culture, science and technology, and hygienic health to the countryside" activities for two months, taking field inspection tours in rural areas of Changsha, Xiangtan, Loudi, and Xiangxi.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: Chinanews