Henan University of Chinese Medicine Hosts the “Experience China, Visit Lingbao” Social Practice Activity for International Students
To deeply implement the requirements of the China Scholarship Council’s “Experience China” brand project and promote the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture, in May 2026, Henan University of Chinese Medicine hosted the “Experience China, Visit Lingbao—International Students’ Yellow River TCM Culture Social Practice Activity.” Twenty-five international students from 11 countries visited Lingbao, Henan. During a three-day immersive study tour, they gained insights into the Yellow River culture, explored the wisdom of TCM, studied Taoist philosophy, experienced rural revitalization, and received revolutionary education, truly understanding and perceiving China through walking and experiencing.
Themed “Seeking the Way at Hangu Pass, Herbal Lingbao, Pulse of the Yellow River, and Mutual Learning among Civilizations,” this social practice activity integrated four major elements: Yellow River culture, Taoist philosophy, TCM culture, and rural revitalization. Adopting a model of “cultural immersion + academic expedition + leisure experience,” the program was meticulously designed with segments including the opening and flag conferring ceremony, Yellow River culture study, Chinese herbal medicine expedition, Tao Te Ching research, new rural exploration, campus interaction, and revolutionary education. This allowed international students to perceive a real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China from all angles.
On the first day of the activity, all teachers and students held the opening and flag conferring ceremony at the Jiuqu Yellow River Viewing Platform in Dongzhai Village, Lingbao. Zhu Jianfei, Director of the International Cooperation Office and Dean of the School of International Education, explained the significance of this activity. He encouraged the international students to feel with their hearts the beauty of the Yellow River’s ecology, the charm of traditional culture, and the changes brought by rural revitalization, and he solemnly conferred the flag to the international students on behalf of the university. After the opening ceremony, a local tutor conducted a special lecture on Yellow River culture, explaining the important status of the Yellow River in Chinese civilization.
The lecture also covered ecological protection achievements and the cultural connotation of “When the Yellow River is peaceful, the world is at peace.” The tutor led everyone to appreciate the magnificent sunset over the Yellow River and taste health-preserving medicinal cuisine, allowing them to experience the TCM concept of “medicine and food sharing the same origin” in practice.
During the activity, international students visited the Chinese herbal medicine planting base in Dongzhai Village. Under the guidance of agricultural experts and TCM pharmacists, they learned about the industrial development, planting characteristics, and medicinal values of Lingbao’s authentic medicinal materials. They identified medicinal herbs on-site and experienced the digging of Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu), intuitively feeling the complete process of Chinese herbal medicines from the field to clinical application, and understanding the practical achievements of TCM in boosting rural revitalization. During the intangible cultural heritage experience session, everyone made Chinese herbal medicine aromatic tablets with inheritors, combining TCM culture with traditional handicrafts to experience the charm of Chinese intangible cultural heritage.
International students also visited Hangu Pass, touring the gate tower, Taichu Palace, and the statue of Laozi. They listened to the story of the birth of the Tao Te Ching and the Taoist philosophical wisdom of “Tao follows nature, and the unity of heaven and humanity.” They also recited classic excerpts in front of the statue of Laozi, realizing the breadth and depth of excellent traditional Chinese culture through on-site study.
Furthermore, international students walked into Dongzhai Village to explore the achievements of new rural construction on the ground. They held discussions with the village committee and genuinely felt the improvement in people’s livelihoods and the vitality of development brought by rural revitalization. They also conducted Chinese language teaching and cultural interactions with students from Hangu Pass Town Central Primary School, building bridges of transnational friendship through fun exchanges.
At the end of the activity, all teachers and students went to the Zhenyu Revolutionary Education Base. Through historical photos, documentary materials, and physical exhibits, they learned about the history of the Chinese revolution and comprehended the revolutionary spirit.
The successful holding of this “Experience China, Visit Lingbao” social practice activity is an important practice for Henan University of Chinese Medicine to promote practical education for international students and deepen international cultural exchanges. The substantial content of the activity received unanimous praise from the international students. In the future, the university will continue to use the “Experience China” brand as a carrier, constantly innovate study tour models, enrich activity content, and deepen the transformation of results. It aims to build an international exchange brand with TCM characteristics, cultivate more international young envoys who know and are friendly to China, and contribute the strength of Henan University of Chinese Medicine to telling China’s stories well, spreading TCM culture, and promoting people-to-people bonds and mutual learning among civilizations between China and foreign countries.
HUCM 2026 International Students New Year Gala and Award Ceremony Concludes Successfully
Time flows onward, and a new journey begins. To welcome the 2026 New Year’s Day and build a bridge for cultural exchange between China and other countries, the 2026 New Year Gala and Award Ceremony for International Students of Henan University of Chinese Medicine was held on the evening of December 30, 2025, in the Second Lecture Hall of the library. International students from around the world, along with faculty, students, and guests, gathered together to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new amidst singing and dancing, and to discuss the future through cultural integration.
The gala opened with a warm atmosphere as the warm-up video, Looking Back at 2025, was played. The moments of growth and highlights captured on screen resonated deeply with the audience. Following that, three hosts — MICHIDMAA from Mongolia, ABDULAZIZ from Tajikistan, and EJAZ from Pakistan — took the stage together, welcoming the guests warmly in a bilingual format and officially announcing the start of the gala.
At the beginning of the gala, Zhu Jianfei, Director of the International Cooperation Office and Dean of the School of International Education, delivered a New Year’s address. He reviewed the fruitful achievements of the university’s international development in 2025, noting the continuous expansion in the number of source countries and the gradual increase in the scale of international students. He also expressed congratulations to the international students for their outstanding performance in academic research and cultural communication, encouraging students to use traditional Chinese medicine as a bond and become guardians of Sino-foreign friendship and ambassadors of cultural exchange. Subsequently, student representatives took the stage to share their learning experiences and express their hopes for the new year.
During the award ceremony, the International Cooperation Office and the School of International Education presented honorary certificates to international students who had excelled in the past year, including awards for Outstanding International Student, Admissions Promotion Award, Advanced Individual in Clinical Skills, and Advanced Individual in Scientific Research Innovation. Group photos were taken to commemorate the occasion.
In the cultural performance segment, international students from more than ten countries, including Thailand, India, and Kazakhstan, presented a traditional costume fashion show, showcasing the charm of their respective ethnic cultures through the flow of splendid attire. Thomas from Cameroon delivered a heartfelt rendition of the Chinese song Your Answer, conveying the power of chasing dreams through his voice. Wong Li Teng from Malaysia led a martial arts performance titled Gathering for Martial Arts, displaying the vigorous beauty of Chinese martial arts through a blend of soft and hard movements. Li Hongchang from Myanmar gave a solo guqin performance of The Drunkard, whose melodious and soothing tones delighted the audience. The Thai student delegation performed an energetic dance, Youthful Vibe of Thailand. Alana from Russia played a moving piano piece, Katyusha. Magis from Benin performed a lively French rap, Life Far Away. Luo Ying, a Chinese student, sang the English song Espresso with vibrant energy. Interactive games such as “drumming and passing the flower,” “musical chairs,” and relay races were interspersed throughout the evening, creating waves of laughter and bringing Chinese and international students closer together in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The gala reached its climax with a choir performance of the Chinese song Friends by students from the Chinese language preparatory class. The melodious tune spoke of deep friendships that transcend mountains and seas.
This gala and award ceremony not only showcased the talents and youthful energy of our international students but also, using traditional Chinese medicine as a bond, built a platform for mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations. The International Cooperation Office and the School of International Education will continue to deepen the international dimension of education, provide better study and living support for Chinese and international students, and help pass on traditional Chinese medicine culture across the globe.
International Students Celebrate Winter Solstice with Dumpling Making
On December 22, 2025, the Winter Solstice, the School of International Education of our university organized nearly 30 international students to participate in a themed activity of "Making Dumplings for the Winter Solstice", enabling international students to experience traditional Chinese culture through folk customs.
At the event, canteen masters provided hands-on guidance, from filling preparation to wrapping dumplings. International students sat around tables and took part with great enthusiasm. Thomas from Cameroon held up his somewhat crooked dumplings and joked, "Making dumplings looks easy, but it’s actually not simple at all." Sarah from India, who enjoys cooking daily, learned quickly and made plump, well-shaped dumplings that won praise from everyone.
Teachers and students chatted while making dumplings, covering customs such as "counting nine cold days" and dietary differences between northern and southern China. Alana from Russia held a plate of freshly cooked dumplings and said, "In China, dumplings taste like home. Making and eating dumplings with friends from many countries today feels just like being back home." The venue was filled with laughter and a warm atmosphere.
Our university has held Winter Solstice themed activities for international students for consecutive years, forming a three-dimensional education model of "Perception – Experience – Communication". This cross-border food experience not only conveys the traditional idea that "the Winter Solstice is as important as the Spring Festival" but also serves as a vivid textbook for international students to understand China. In the future, our university will continue to build diverse exchange platforms to help international students fully integrate into campus life.
Good News: Our University's 2026 "Experience China" Project Officially Approved by the China Scholarship Council
Recently, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) officially announced the results of the 2026 “Experience China” social practice and cultural experience program for Chinese Government Scholarship students. The social practice project “Experience China: Visit Lingbao,” submitted by our university for international students, has been successfully approved and awarded an A-grade rating by the review panel.
“Experience China” is a national-level flagship program hosted by the China Scholarship Council. It aims to organize international students in China to step out of their campuses and into society. Through immersive national condition inspections and cultural experiences, the program enables students to gain a comprehensive understanding of China’s history, culture, development achievements, and social realities, thereby promoting people-to-people bonds and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign youth.
Based on our university’s distinctive strengths in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) education, the approved project focuses on four major themes: Yellow River culture, Taoist philosophy, TCM inheritance, and rural revitalization. It will organize international students to visit Lingbao for on-site study tours, cultural experiences, industrial visits, and exchange activities. This initiative allows international students to experience the charm of TCM culture, appreciate the profound heritage of the Central Plains, and witness the achievements of rural revitalization through practical engagement.
The expert review panel commented that the project features distinct themes, outstanding characteristics, adaptation to local conditions, and integration of industry and education. It highly aligns with the objectives of the “Experience China” program and demonstrates significant value in practical education, thus earning an A-grade rating.
In recent years, the university has attached great importance to international student education and international communication. We have continuously optimized the training system for international students, innovated models for national condition education and practical education, and steadily enhanced international students’ understanding and identification with Chinese culture. The successful approval of this project is not only a full affirmation by the China Scholarship Council of our university’s work in international student education and international cultural exchange but also provides an important opportunity for our university to build a higher-level platform for Sino-foreign cultural exchange, tell China’s stories well, and spread the voice of TCM.
Good News: China Youth Network Sends Letter of Thanks to Our University
Recently, China Youth Network sent a letter of thanks to our university, expressing sincere gratitude for the strong support provided by our international students in the activities organized by China Youth Network.
In February 2026, the International Cooperation Office and the School of International Education of our university selected three international students to participate in the SAY “GUO NIAN HAO” — Spring Festival Experience Program for Foreign Youth in 15 Cities hosted by China Youth Network. The students include BAHEEN TARIQ AHMAD and BAREKZAI BAHRAMUDDIN from Afghanistan, as well as YAKUBOV ROVACH from Turkmenistan. Together with international students from other universities, they went to Fuding City, Fujian Province to experience Chinese Spring Festival customs in an immersive way and promote the fine traditional Chinese culture. These visits, interviews and video shooting activities fully demonstrated the excellent qualities of our international students.
The letter pointed out that teachers and students of our university participated in various activities with full enthusiasm, polished every shooting material with a rigorous and earnest attitude, and captured the folk customs and humanistic warmth of the Chinese Spring Festival from diverse perspectives. They vividly interpreted the core connotations of reunion, blessing and friendliness in traditional Chinese culture. Their good mental outlook and solid cross-cultural communication skills injected important impetus into the smooth progress of the activity.
The letter also stated that China Youth Network looked forward to further deepening cooperation with our university in the future. Relying on more high-quality practical platforms, the two sides will give full play to the advantages of our university in cultivating international students, jointly explore more essence of fine Chinese culture, and cultivate more outstanding cross-cultural communication ambassadors. This will enable Chinese stories to shine more brightly on the international stage and jointly compose a new chapter in external cultural communication.
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