2025 "Chinese Bridge" Summer Camp for University of Niš, Serbia Concludes Successfully
On July 26, the 2025 "Chinese Bridge" Summer Camp of the Confucius Institute at the University of Niš, Serbia, sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education and hosted by Jiangsu University, concluded successfully in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. As a co-founder of the Confucius Institute at the University of Niš and the host of the event, Jiangsu University made meticulous preparations, thoughtful arrangements and comprehensive services, enabling 16 teachers and students from Serbia to deeply experience the charm of China in just over ten days and co-write a new chapter of cultural exchanges between China and Serbia.
Arrival in Zhenjiang: A Preliminary Tour of the Campus, Launching the Cultural Prologue
On the afternoon of July 16, teachers and students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Niš, Serbia, arrived at Jiangsu University with great anticipation. After a short rest, they couldn’t wait to embark on their first exploration in China – visiting the Jiangsu University History Museum and the China Agricultural Machinery Culture Exhibition Hall. Precious historical photos and exhibits carrying the weight of time vividly showcased the glorious development and remarkable achievements of Jiangsu University since its establishment. The campers were fully immersed, listening attentively to the narrators’ introductions. When their eyes fell on the photo of the inauguration ceremony for the Confucius Institute co-established by Jiangsu University and the University of Niš, their eyes sparkled with excitement, reflecting a deep resonance with the profound friendship between the two universities and their own missions.
Opening Ceremony: Building Bridges of Friendship, Embarking on a Cultural Journey
On July 17, the opening ceremony of the summer camp was held in a solemn and warm atmosphere. Leaders of Jiangsu University attended the ceremony in person, extending a warm welcome to the teachers and students coming from afar. They expressed the hope that through this summer camp, the Serbian teachers and students could truly experience the extensive and profound nature of Chinese culture and the vibrant development of China, and further enhance the profound friendship between teachers and students of the two countries. The representative of the campers delivered a speech full of longing, looking forward to a pleasant and fulfilling stay in China.
The book donation segment was a highlight of the opening ceremony. The campers received multilingual versions of Three-Character Classic, Thousand-Character Classic and 100 Essential Chinese Oral Sentences, all compiled by professors from Jiangsu University. These books are not only carriers of knowledge, but also bridges connecting Chinese and Serbian cultures, conveying cross-border cultural friendship.
A Ten-Day Feast: Diverse Experiences, Appreciating the Charm of Chinese Civilization
In the following 10 days, Jiangsu University carefully designed a series of rich and colorful activities for the Serbian teachers and students, allowing them to experience the unique charm of China from multiple dimensions.
Museum Exploration: Seeking Historical and Cultural Treasures
Museums are windows to understanding a country’s history and culture. The precious cultural relics in Zhenjiang Museum, the stories of the Grand Canal in the China Grand Canal Museum, the inheritance of vinegar culture in the China Vinegar Culture Museum, and the folk art treasures in the Yangzhong Chen Lüsheng Museum deeply fascinated the Serbian teachers and students.
At Zhenjiang Museum, ancient jade wares, ceramics, calligraphy and paintings were on display in great abundance, each carrying a long historical memory. At the China Grand Canal Museum, the immersive experience made them feel as if they were traveling through time and space, directly perceiving the important role of the Grand Canal in China’s economic and cultural exchanges throughout history. In the China Vinegar Culture Museum, from traditional vinegar-making utensils and demonstrations of ancient brewing techniques to folk exhibits related to vinegar culture, they understood the thousand-year craftsmanship behind "Zhenjiang balsamic vinegar" amid the lingering sour aroma. The pottery, bamboo weaving, woodworking and other exhibits in the Yangzhong Chen Lüsheng Museum fully demonstrated the extensive and profound nature of Chinese folk art. In particular, various bamboo products not only highlighted the close connection between bamboo and production and daily life, but also bore distinct local characteristics of Yangzhong.
Strolling Through Blocks: Experiencing Vivid Cultural Inheritance
Historical and cultural blocks are vivid epitomes of urban culture. Xijindu in Zhenjiang, nestled against mountains and facing the river, features stone roads polished smooth and shiny by years of wear. Historical sites such as the Zhaoguan Stone Pagoda of the Yuan Dynasty, the Waiting-for-Ferry Pavilion and the Life-Saving Association are scattered throughout the area, allowing teachers and students to feel the profoundness of "seeing a thousand years at a glance" with every step they took.
The antique architecture, bustling market atmosphere and local snacks in Nanjing Confucius Temple immersed the teachers and students in a strong folk custom ambiance. As a cultural landmark of Changzhou, Qingguo Lane preserves a large number of buildings and former residences of celebrities from the Ming, Qing and Republic of China periods. Wandering through the lane, they touched the city’s memory and appreciated the charm of the Jiangnan region.
Homestay Experience: Feeling the Warmth of Chinese Families
The friendly family reception activity brought a unique warmth to the Serbian teachers and students. They visited Chinese families, making dumplings, practicing brush calligraphy and chatting about daily life with their hosts, experiencing the lifestyle and cultural customs of ordinary Chinese families in the warmth of daily life. The profound friendship forged in this cozy atmosphere became a precious cross-border memory of the summer camp.
Enterprise Visits: Witnessing the Strength of Chinese Manufacturing
The teachers and students successively visited Lianbo Precision Technology (Zhenjiang) Co., Ltd. and Changzhou Xingyu Automotive Lighting Systems Co., Ltd. In the production workshops, they observed advanced manufacturing equipment and efficient production processes up close. They communicated with enterprise leaders, gaining a deep understanding of the operation modes and innovative concepts of Chinese enterprises. Through these on-site visits, they directly felt the strong strength and vigorous development momentum of China’s manufacturing industry.
Cultural Classes: Immersively Experiencing the Charm of Chinese Civilization
Chinese cultural courses were the highlight of the summer camp. In the Chinese painting class, the campers first copied the models, then mixed colors and applied them, and finally completed works with distinctive characteristics, experiencing the unique artistic conception of traditional Chinese painting through brush and ink.
In the tai chi fan class, the teacher’s red fan opened and closed with a gust of momentum, and the movements, combining hardness and softness, flowed like clouds and water, drawing continuous applause from the students who were eager to try. Although they only learned a segment, some students exclaimed excitedly: "I can do Chinese kung fu too!" Their sense of pride was filled with love for traditional Chinese culture.
The guzheng class kicked off with a performance of Liuyang River, whose clear melody enchanted everyone. Under the teacher’s guidance, when they played familiar melody fragments, a sense of accomplishment welled up in their hearts.
The two intangible cultural heritage experiences – rubbing and lacquered fan making – were full of fun. In the rubbing session, the campers continuously adjusted their strength, gently tapping the rice paper with ink pads, successfully replicating ancient patterns clearly on the paper. Lacquered fan making was a wonderful "encounter between water and color". Following the steps, everyone gently placed the plain white fan surfaces into the prepared dye solution, watching as the fan surfaces gradually developed patterns of varying shades, turning ordinary fans into pieces with an elegant ancient charm in an instant. The rubbing works and lacquered fans they made by hand became the most special souvenirs of their trip.
The Song Dynasty tea ceremony experience was equally wonderful. First, they watched the teacher’s demonstration, then followed the detailed instructions to grind tea leaves, pour water, whisk the tea... step by step in a decent manner. When they saw that the froth they whipped remained for a long time, they were all extremely excited. Swirling the tea cups gently, watching the white froth form patterns, and enjoying delicate refreshments, they experienced the elegant lifestyle of literati in China’s Song Dynasty.
The successful holding of this "Chinese Bridge" Summer Camp of the Confucius Institute at the University of Niš, Serbia, has built a solid bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Serbia. It is believed that this unforgettable trip to China will become a precious memory in the hearts of Serbian teachers and students, promoting the continuous deepening of cultural exchanges between the two countries and making them bloom with more brilliant splendor. (By Tang Min & Qu Yunjin)
