Students from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) practice martial arts in Hengshui, Hebei province, on May 30.

    A summer cultural exchange program recently brought together students from the University of Central Missouri, USA, and China's Hengshui University, fostering friendships and deep cross-cultural understanding in Hebei province.

The 10-member delegation from America joined their Chinese peers in Hengshui for activities centered on "cultural mutual learning, ecological appreciation, and heritage preservation".

    "This exchange program created a valuable platform for the American teachers and students, allowing them to experience traditional Chinese culture in depth," said Ma Yunyan, director of the international cooperation and exchange center at Hengshui University.   

A UCM faculty member learns to makezongziwith a Chinese instructor during Dragon Boat Festival on June 1.

    The exchange took place from May 29 to June 5. Participants joined classes, academic discussions, and cultural workshops. They also visited famous sites in Hengshui and Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei.

    The American participants learned to makezongzi(sticky rice with assorted fillings wrapped in leaves) under their Chinese peers' guidance during Dragon Boat Festival, which fell on May 31. They also practiced Chinese martial arts and tried on traditionalhanfuclothing.

    "Celebrating with Chinese peers felt magical," said Sadie Staker, a UCM student. "I loved wearinghanfuand trying calligraphy."

American and Chinese students interact while learning about Dragon Boat Festival traditions on May 30.

     They also explored the Hengshui Lake National Nature Reserve to discuss wetland conservation and visited Zhengding county in Shijiazhuang to study historical heritage. They experienced intangible cultural heritage firsthand, including creating woodblock New Year paintings at Wuqiang Museum, playing folk instruments in Zhouwo Music Town, and learning Changshan war drum painting and Zhengding paper-cutting.

    "My time in China has been an extraordinary and meaningful experience," said UCM student Matthew Le Phan. "I've not only made many friends from Hengshui University but also gained a deeper understanding of local culture and language."

American students learn to make dumplings on May 31.

    Through their exchanges, they built strong friendships by recognizing each other's strengths, said Ma Yunyan, adding that more programs will follow to deepen cross-cultural understanding and public engagement.

A UCM student makes a woodblock New Year painting at Wuqiang Museum on June 4.