On the afternoon of April 26, 2024, a total of 43 international students and Chinese students of our Chinese-medium undergraduate program, led by Ms. Tang Min and Ms. Huang Xueyun, visited Zhenjiang Folk Art Museum to experience the beauty of Song Dynasty tea-dotting.

At the beginning of the activity, under the guidance of the lecturer, the students listened to the non-heritage folklore and culture related to Zhenjiang and appreciated the exquisite non-heritage exhibits, so as to gain a deeper understanding of the rich connotation and historical origin of Zhenjiang folk art.

Afterwards, they came to the first floor to appreciate the explanation and display of Mr. Song Lianke, the non-genetic inheritor of Song Dynasty tea-dotting techniques, and witnessed the exquisite skills of Song Dynasty tea-dotting. Mr. Song's movements were flowing and pleasing to the eye, which led the students to say that they also wanted to experience it.

After enjoying the unique charm of Song Dynasty tea ordering, the students experienced this ancient and elegant art under the guidance of Mr. Song. In the process of experience, students actively participated and seriously operated, and deeply felt the profound heritage and charm of Chinese tea culture. 

After everyone had finished the tea making, Mr. Song made an original proposal to elect a “king of tea making” among the students. The students were eager to show their own tea soup, and Mr. Song was so surprised by the speed and quality of their work that it was difficult to choose a winner.

In the end, among the competitors, Lu Mengguang from Bangladesh came out on top, his tea soup was milky white in color and the foam was dense but not dispersed, he won the title of “King of Tea Ordering” and received a small gift prepared by Mr. Song.

At the end of the activity, Mr. Song taught the students how to taste the tea, and everyone tasted the tea they had just made, as if they had crossed the millennium in the process, and tasted tea with the ancient literati of the Song Dynasty.

This activity is a great event for the integration of Chinese and foreign cultures, which promotes international students to have a deeper understanding and recognition of Chinese culture, rather than just staying in writing. In the future, the Language and Culture Center will continue to organize more similar cultural activities to bring international students a wonderful cultural experience and explore the profound Chinese culture together.