Eighteen teachers and students from the University under the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of EurAsEC in Russia recently spent eight days at Nanjing Forestry University, taking part in an international summer school that combined traditional culture and academic exchange.

Russian students try their hands at traditional Chinese dyeing. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]

For many of the visitors, the program was their first-ever opportunity to experience Chinese intangible cultural heritage firsthand. In a traditional dyeing workshop, they explored the ancient art of plant-based dyeing, while a sachet-making class introduced them to the delicate craft of stitching fragrant herbs and spices into handmade pouches.

The academic program also encouraged students to explore Chinese culture from new perspectives. A lecture titled "Beyond Generation: Cultural Creativity in Digital Media Art in the Age of AI" sparked discussions on the boundary between generation and genuine creativity. Another lecture, titled "Chinese Language and Chinese Characters", took participants on a journey through the evolution of Chinese writing across thousands of years.

A calligraphy class offered a quieter encounter with Chinese culture. As students practiced the strokes of Chinese characters with brush and ink, they experienced the patience, concentration and sense of inner calm associated with the traditional art form.

Beyond the classroom, the group explored some of Nanjing's best-known cultural landmarks. At the underground palace beneath Niushou Mountain, they gained an appreciation for the grandeur of Buddhist architecture. Dressed in hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) and seated for a traditional tea experience, the students discovered the elegance and refined lifestyle associated with the Jiangnan region.

Visits to the Nanjing Museum and the Nanjing Yunjin Brocade Museum offered another window into the city's long history.