Children in Liyang village show Polish kids how to do tie-dyeing. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

In the ancient alleys of Liyang village in Ninghai county, Ningbo, laughter and creativity filled the air, as children from Poland joined local students for a special cross-cultural exchange on July 6.

Facilitated by Huang Xiaohua, cultural envoy and Ningbo Tech University's design professor, the event invited children to explore Chinese tie-dye techniques and to co-create children's poetry in a village steeped in history.

Huang called it a "threefold beauty" journey — appreciating intangible heritage through tie-dye, experiencing ancient architecture, and discovering the elegance of Chinese poetry.

Using indigo dye and cotton cloth, the children learned traditional dyeing under the guidance of artisan Liu Cuiping. Despite the language gap, simple English and teamwork bridged cultures. "This is my first time in China. I'll take this tie-dye work home to show my friends," shared Szymon from Poland.

Later, poet Xue Ye led the group along the village's Liyang old street, where a multilingual poetry session blended Mandarin, local dialects and Polish songs — drawing hearts closer through language and melody.

The visiting students are part of a Chinese language summer camp. Their teacher, Meiting, expressed her heartfelt hope that they would grow to love China as she does.

Known for being a "poetry village", Liyang continues revitalizing through art and cultural exchanges — showcasing how ancient traditions can inspire global connections.

The visiting children have a poetry lesson in Liyang village. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]