By Gao Yang

‘It's amazing! I love it!’ On the afternoon of 30th August, in the tea art room of Nantong College of Science and Technology, Ivan, a sophomore of tourism management major of University Malaysia Sabah, gently put the tea leaves into the pot, completed the following steps one by one: washing tea, brewing tea, sealing the pot, dividing the tea into cups, etc. He held the small cup to smell the tea and sipped the tea, ‘the tea art in China is very beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Tasting slowly, I feel a deep sense of calm, both inside and out.’

In the aroma of tea, ‘China-ASEAN Year of Cultural Exchange’ ‘Nantong Culture’ ‘Exploring Craftsmanship’ tour kicked off. 18 teachers and students from University Malaysia Sabah and more than 30 domestic and foreign students from Nantong College of Science and Technology gathered together, to start a ‘friendship journey’ of diverse cultural exchanges and mutual learning to meet Nantong and experience China.

Choose the colour you like and drip it into the water, and then stir, let the paint spread evenly in the basin, insert the fan diagonally or rotate it into the water, and then quickly take it out, one and another colorful and ever-changing lacquer fans were made.

‘So beautiful!’ the moment the fan was out of the water, Mursyid, a junior student of the School of Business, Economics, and Accounting, could not resist exclaiming, ‘the pattern is very special. The progress is also very interesting. I will take it back to my family.’ He said that he was very interested in the history and culture of China. It was his first time to come to Nantong. He hoped that he could understand China more using this as a window.

Zhen Kaixin, the team leader from University Malaysia Sabah, also looked forward to this trip. ‘China is the largest trade partner of Malaysia. There are many Chinese tourists in Malaysia.’ She said that she hoped that students could learn Chinese and understand China by cultural learning and practical experience, to get more opportunities for growth and development.

In 2023, Nantong College of Science and Technology and University Malaysia Sabah established a bond. This year the two schools signed officially. They will further increase cooperation and joint building, to promote cultural exchange. Up to now, Nantong College of Science and Technology has organized two groups of teachers and students to go to Malaysia for research and learning. 8 teachers and 40 students have been to University Malaysia Sabah.