On June9, 2025, the"Friendship of HSU and UCM in Summer"- 2025 HSU-UCM Summer Exchange Program, came to a successful close. Chinese and American teachers and students deepened their mutual understanding and strengthened friendships through a variety of cultural experiences.

    This HSU-UCM Summer Exchange Program, spanning 12 days, facilitated the building of bridges of friendship between Chinese and American youth through in-depth cultural exchanges across seven distinctive segments. In the"Explore Rich Ancient Culture of Hengshui"segment, teachers and students visited historical and cultural sites such as the Hengshui Garden Expo Park and the Grand Canal in Gucheng County. During the"Tour in Unique Ecology of Hengshui"activities, an ecological expedition to the Hengshui Lake Wetland Reserve allowed American teachers and students to profoundly appreciate China's achievements in ecological civilization construction. The"Experience Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hengshui"segment made cultural exchanges more vivid and interesting with activities like Wuqiang New Year painting creation and a visit to Zhouwo Music Town. In the"Travel through the Thousand-year-old Ancient City of Zhengding"segment, teachers and students strolled through the ancient city of Zhengding, touching the remnants of the Tang and Song dynasties, visiting the Tang Dynasty Bell Tower, admiring the Song Dynasty bronze-casted Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, and gaining an in-depth understanding of ancient Chinese casting and mural techniques. At the Rongguo Mansion, a replica of a Qing Dynasty architectural complex, participants also experienced intangible cultural heritage projects such as Changshan war drum painting and Zhengding paper-cutting, personally feeling the charm of traditional Chinese culture. The"Summer Tour to See the Beautiful Scenery of Beijing"activity took teachers and students on a tour of Beijing's historical and cultural landmarks. At Tiananmen Square, they felt the political and cultural center of China; at the Palace Museum, they admired the grandeur of Ming and Qing royal architecture; and ascending the Badaling Great Wall, they experienced the heroic sentiment of"he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man."These activities provided American teachers and students with a more intuitive understanding of China's long history and culture. In the"Foster HSU-UCM Student Friendship"segment, Chinese and American university students attended the same class, sang a Chinese song together, and learned Chinese painting.

    Particularly the event coincided with the Chinese traditional festival, the Dragon Boat Festival. Chinese and American teachers and students participated together in folk activities such as making zongzi and crafting sachets, allowing American teachers and students to personally experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture. Dr. Laurel Kay Hogue, UCM Vice Provost, stated in her speech, "These cultural experience activities will become the most precious memories for the students, giving them a deeper understanding of Chinese culture."

    In terms of academic exchanges, teachers and students from both universities engaged in a variety of interactive activities, such as attending the same class and singing together. The well-designed exchange courses by departments such as the School of Mathematics and Computer Science and the School of Foreign Languages provided a platform for intellectual collisions between Chinese and American young scholars. Secretary Niu Zebin pointed out in his speech, "Through these interactions, we have witnessed the power of knowledge transcending national borders and the touching scenes of young generations growing together through exchanges."

    At the closing ceremony, Chinese and American teachers and students jointly presented a splendid cultural performance. From the ethnic dance "Forest Spirits" to the American students' rendition of "Party in the USA," from the guzheng ensemble "Full-hearted Love in Manchu Hometown" to the aria from the opera "La Traviata," the fusion and collision of diverse cultures won rounds of applause. Finally, the song "In a Distant Land" sung by all teachers and students pushed the atmosphere to a climax.

    It is reported that this event represents a deepening and expansion of cultural exchanges between the two universities. Through various forms such as visits, intangible cultural heritage experiences, and academic exchanges, it provided a platform for mutual understanding between Chinese and American youth. This youthful rendezvous across the Pacific Ocean not only allowed American teachers and students to deeply experience the unique charm of traditional Chinese culture but also enabled youth from both countries to establish sincere friendships through interactions. During the event, the two universities also reached a consensus on further expanding areas of cooperation, planning to develop more exchange programs in specialized fields based on existing collaborations.