US students immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture in Taiyuan

Thirteen teachers and students from George School in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, visited Liujiabu village in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on Saturday to experience pottery, lacquerware, and paper-cutting.

"I had done ceramics before in my life, and it is fascinating to try the craft in China and learn the differences between Chinese and American ceramic-making techniques," said Clay Marentette, a George School student.

On Saturday morning, the group watched a lion dance performance and learned how to brew Shanxi aged vinegar. Afterward, they got to taste the condiment.

The highlight of the day was when the group tried paper-cutting. Each student crafted their own version of the Chinese character for fu, which means blessing. Fu is one of the most popular and auspicious characters in Chinese culture, as it symbolizes happiness and well-being.

"I think a symbol of good luck is more meaningful for my peers and me, because we have so much more time left to receive luck," Marentette said.

Earlier, on Thursday, the group visited the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, where they learned about ancient Chinese architecture and tried painted sculpture creation and 3D printing technology for ancient building restoration.

David Nolan, a teacher at George School, kept raising his camera to capture what he saw. "The architecture here blends with nature, and the ancestral temple sits naturally in the landscape. This harmonious coexistence left a deep impression on me," he said.

The visit was part of an initiative to bring 100,000 young Americans to China for exchanges and study over the coming five years. The event was co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shanxi Province and China Daily Youth Channel, and co-organized by the Shanxi Provincial Education Department and the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

Li Jialu contributed to this story.