International students from Jiangsu University try on traditional Chinese attire. [Photo/Jiangnan Times]

More than 30 international students from a variety of countries and regions recently joined an immersive cultural tour. Through a series of activities, the students experienced the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

At a hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) workshop, the students learned about the cultural significance of traditional Chinese attire, including how colors and patterns reflect etiquette and symbolism.

Students visit Xijin Ferry Ancient Street. [Photo/Jiangnan Times]

At Xijin Ferry Ancient Street, they explored city walls from the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279), stone slabs from the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), and listened to stories of the historic ferry.

Fans featuring calligraphy written by international students. [Photo/Jiangnan Times]

Back on campus, Chinese language teachers introduced the Thousand Character Classic, explaining its deeper meaning in simple terms. Students then practiced calligraphy by copying the text onto fans. A student from South Korea even annotated the verses with Korean translations, connecting Chinese traditions with his own cultural background.

The journey concluded with an AI-empowered Chinese classics recital. International students first recited translated versions of their favorite Chinese poems in their mother tongues. Using AI voice synthesis, their Spanish, Vietnamese, and Lao readings were blended with traditional Chinese musical instruments, producing unique cross-language audio performances.