A group of nine students and two teachers from Rudolf Steiner Gymnasium in Germany recently embarked on an enriching eight-day cultural exploration in Qingyuan county, Lishui, East China's Zhejiang province.

This visit marks another chapter in the fruitful exchange program between Qingyuan High School and their German counterpart, initiated in April 2018.

German students experience the traditional Qingyuan dragon dance in Lishui. [Photo/WeChat account: zjqyxfb1]

The German visitors experienced the traditional Qingyuan dragon dance, a vibrant cultural heritage. Under the guidance of the local dragon dance team, the students tried their hand at this intricate art form.

"It's harder than it looks, but incredibly fun," said Diana, a German student, as they learned the movements with enthusiasm and respect for Chinese culture.

German students try their hand at baishiji paper-cutting, an intangible cultural heritage of Qingyuan. [Photo/WeChat account: zjqyxfb1]

The visitors also tried their hand at baishiji paper-cutting, an intangible cultural heritage of Qingyuan known for its intricate patterns and auspicious symbolism. The German students were fascinated by the skill and cultural significance behind this art, with Merle expressing a keen interest in continuing to learn Chinese paper-cutting back in Germany.

The cultural immersion extended to pottery, where students crafted unique pieces under the guidance of teacher Hu Yi at Jiulong Middle School. The students were captivated by the beauty of traditional Chinese arts.