International students from China University of Mining and Technology learn about traditional Chinese etiquette at Pengcheng Academy in Xuzhou, Jiangsu. [Photo/WeChat account: pengchengshuyuan]

Nearly 40 international students from Thailand and Brazil, the ninth group organized by the China University of Mining and Technology, visited Pengcheng Academy in Xuzhou for an immersive cultural experience on Oct 16.

The event began with a lesson on traditional Chinese posture and walking etiquette, where students practiced standing tall and walking gracefully under the guidance of academy instructors, gaining a sense of the solemnity and elegance of Eastern manners.

The heart of the activity lay in a series of hands-on cultural experiences. In the tea ceremony section, 14 Thai students watched attentively as a volunteer demonstrated the intricate 18-step oolong tea ritual. The aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air, and as the students tasted the mellow tea, they began to appreciate the subtle elegance of Chinese culture.

Students learn to weave red strings into delicate bracelets. [Photo/WeChat account: pengchengshuyuan]

In the mortise-and-tenon workshop, students assembled wooden pieces, marveling at the ingenuity behind this ancient construction technique. Meanwhile, at the knotting station, students wove red strings into delicate bracelets symbolizing good fortune.

Students experience a tea ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: pengchengshuyuan]

Over the years, Pengcheng Academy has welcomed numerous groups of international students eager to explore and experience Chinese traditions. It now serves as a key cultural practice base for international students from several Xuzhou universities, including China University of Mining and Technology, Jiangsu Normal University, and Xuzhou University of Technology.