International students participating in the 2023 Shanghai Summer School program organized by Shanghai International Studies University recently attended the "Being Shanghainese for a day" event, which was part of the program.
The event, co-hosted by the university and Shanghai's Caoyang sub-district, aimed to provide the international students with an immersive experience of Shanghai's local life and culture.
During the event, the participants visited the Caoyang New Village Historical Museum, where they learned about the community's history and its transformation. They also explored a traditional local market nearby selling a variety of fresh produce.
The students participated in activities like making dumplings and wontons, as they learned traditional culinary skills from local residents. They also had the opportunity to interact with community members about Chinese cuisine and share a meal together.
In addition to these culinary experiences, the students were introduced to traditional arts such as Chinese opera and aijijian (the art of using a straight sword in Tai Chi). They were taught the basics of traditional Chinese opera and were able to try their hand at playing some Chinese instruments. They also participated in a performance by a local community orchestra.
Despite the event lasting only a day, the students said it helped them to seamlessly assimilate into the daily lives of Shanghai locals and that through this experience, they gained a deeper understanding of Chinese traditions and culture.
Ezzinaoui Elmehdi from Morocco described it as an exciting tour. He said he learned a lot of interesting historical, economic and social information about the local community. He also got a first-hand experience of making Shanghai cuisine using special cooking techniques and dishes, which he recalled as being tasty and unique. Moreover, he relished the chance to experience a range of exciting cultural activities such as Tai Chi and making Chinese knots.
Anka Adrián from Hungary said it was an amazing experience. He recalled making some dumplings and chatting with local people. He said he had fun attempting to play the hulusi (葫芦丝), which is quite a unique instrument and one that is rarely seen in his country. He said he managed to string together a few notes.
