International students explore rural Tianjin, challenge countryside perceptions

International students from several Asian countries explored rural life in Tianjin during a field trip last week, gaining a first-hand look at China's rural revitalization and traditional farming while challenging their previous perceptions of the countryside.

The group of 25 students from Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Thailand, and other countries visited the Dajia Eco-Agricultural Industrial Park in Ninghe district, where they picked fresh fruit, made round fans from dried flowers, and tried grinding corn with traditional farm tools.

For many participants, it was their first close encounter with rural China. Before the visit, most had formed their impressions through classroom materials and online videos.

"I never expected to find so many and such large fruits," said Dang Ho Hai Vi, a student from Vietnam. "At first, we thought we were simply coming here to complete an assignment. But once we arrived, it was completely different from what I had imagined."

Gulzar Abrayeva, a student from Turkmenistan, said trying traditional corn-grinding tools gave her a deeper appreciation of China's agricultural heritage. "Our country also grows corn, but I had never seen tools like these before," she said. "They reflect the wisdom of China's traditional farming civilization."

The visit was part of the national "Experience China" program, which encourages international students to step beyond university campuses and engage with local communities, industries, and cultural sites through hands-on activities.

The visit was organized by the Ninghe National Social Practice Base. The base regularly hosts themed activities focusing on agriculture, intangible cultural heritage, and wetland ecology, giving international students opportunities to experience everyday life in China while fostering people-to-people exchanges.

Feng Siyu and Xu He contributed to this story.