On April 16th, the Young Explorers headed to Zhujiajiao near Shanghai to explore the cultural charm of a Jiangnan water town.
Stepping into Zhujiajiao along the bluestone road, which had been polished smooth over time, the cultural depth of a Jiangnan water town became clear. Winding into the depths of the ancient town, the clear river water flowed slowly and the breeze blew through the trees lazily. The visitors strolled along embracing the sights and sounds of Zhujiajiao, pausing to gaze at the exquisitely carved window lattices of the ancient house or stare at the koi in the river.
Carefully prepared photo cards were given by the tour guide. By raising the photo cards to frame the Jiangnan Water Village in their eyes, a beautiful scene could be created. The old stone bridge spanned the long river, the boats were swaying under the bridge, and the white-walled and black-tiled buildings in the distance. Eve Palmer from the UK said excitedly: “Through this small photo card, the beauty of the Jiangnan Water Village seems to be frozen. Every place is so charming. Any shot can be used as a postcard!”
Afterwards, the Young Explorers experienced a hand-rowed boat trrip. Sitting on the slowly moving boat, listening to the squeaking sound of the oars paddling in the water, the breeze gently brushing their faces, and the green trees and ancient houses on both sides slowly receding. They comfortably enjoyed the scenery along the way, immersed in this leisure, as if time had slowed down.
At lunchtime, the table was filled with Shanghai Qingpu specialties. Malantou and Zharou attracted everyone’s attention, with the refreshing taste of Malantou and the rich taste of Zharou winning them praise. “The taste of these two dishes is so unique, I have never eaten them before, it feels like I have opened the door to a new world of food!” Eliot Anthony shared his feelings while tasting.
In the afternoon, under the guidance of a teacher, the young explorers tried stone rubbing. They carefully covered the stone tablet with rice paper and gently patted it with ink. After a while, the words and patterns on the stone tablet appeared clearly on the rice paper. After this, everyone picked up the brush and learned to write their Chinese names on the paper. Although the pen-holding posture was a little unfamiliar, they were serious and focused trying their best at calligraphy.
The next activity was making zongzi. They turned glutinous rice, zongzi leaves and red beans in their hands. Although the shapes of the zongzi were different at the beginning, they gradually took shape after learning and helping each other. Amid laughs at their many attempts, Leo Nasskao shared “I only knew about the Dragon Boat Festival in books before. This time I made zongzi by myself. I feel that I have a deeper understanding of this festival. It’s so interesting!”.
After the activities, everyone sat in a quaint teahouse and listened to Su-style singing and playing. The graceful Wu dialect and the melodious sound of stringed instruments flowed in the air like gurgling water. The young people were immersed in it. Although they could not understand the lyrics, the beautiful melody and the performers’ devoted expressions made them deeply feel the unique charm of Su-style singing and playing.
During the trip to Zhujiajiao, the Young Explorers experienced the charm of a Jiangnan water town and the profoundness of Chinese traditional culture. The activities not only enhanced their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture, but also built a solid bridge for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.
Written by Yuxuan Dai, photos by Yuxuan Dai, edited by Xin Shen. If you liked this article why not read Spot China Young Explorer Program Sets Off to Shanghai and Hangzhou
