Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC hereafter) and global travel service provider Trip.com Group recently organized the second “SJTU × Trip.com” intercultural learning program in Qingpu, Shanghai. The program brought together Chinese and international faculty members and students from 17 countries, including Canada, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and India, for activities focused on regional collaboration, traditional Jiangnan culture, and green development in the Yangtze River Delta.
Xiaoqiao Zhang from SJTU’s School of Education opened the program with a presentation on Fangting Water Courtyard, a landmark at the junction of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. She introduced the principles of joint development, collaborative governance, shared benefits, and mutual prosperity behind the project. She also encouraged students to observe China from different perspectives and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the country through firsthand experience.
Participants then visited the “Water Town Living Room,” including its three bridges and four museums. They took photos at the junction of Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang and participated in traditional craft activities, including qipao knot-button making, Dongshen bamboo weaving, and Suzhou embroidery. Through hands-on practice, they experienced the techniques involved in these crafts. They also listened to Qingpu Tian Shan Ge, a local folk-song tradition.
In the afternoon, participants cycled around Yuandang Lake, following the lakeshore past blue waters and autumn fields. The activity gave them a firsthand view of the region’s natural environment and helped them connect ecological conservation with regional development.
In the evening, participants gathered at Long Bin Building for roundtable discussions and group presentations. Each group designed a flag representing its impressions of the day, incorporating an architectural symbol, an ecological element, and a Chinese phrase. The flags reflected participants’ different perspectives on water-town culture, ecology, and China.
The program provided an opportunity for Chinese and international students to learn about regional development and ecological conservation in China through firsthand experience. By visiting local landmarks, trying traditional crafts, listening to folk music, and cycling around the lake, participants gained a deeper understanding of Jiangnan culture and strengthened cross-cultural connections.
The activity was the second edition of the “SJTU × Trip.com” intercultural learning program and reflects GC’s commitment to international education. By extending learning beyond the classroom and into local communities and natural settings, the program created opportunities for Chinese and international students to learn from one another. GC will continue to promote experiential learning and intercultural exchange, nurturing young people with a global outlook and a strong understanding of China.
