Students at Watling Academy show interest in Ningbo's cultural space. [Photo/Yongpai App]

Students at Watling Academy in the United Kingdom were treated to a special Chinese lesson on Nov 5: a small cultural showcase from Ningbo, featuring a city guide in English, traditional handicrafts, and hands-on cultural activities.

This is the first time the display, part of Ningbo's cultural space initiative, has been showcased at the school, bringing a touch of Chinese culture to students in Grades 8 and 9 participating in its Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP).

Among the exhibits were This Is Ningbo, a city-themed puzzle, traditional embroidered sachets, bamboo-woven fans, and paper-cut decorations. The highlight was a collection of decorative stamps featuring Chinese cultural motifs. Students were invited to press the stamps onto scrolls, creating their own works of art.

Vyas Nambiar, an eighth-grade student, said the activity offered an engaging way to appreciate the richness of Chinese culture and experience it firsthand.

Richard Scott, head of the Modern Foreign Languages Department at Watling Academy, said the small cultural space offered students a new window into Chinese culture and broadened their international perspectives. He also expressed hope for more regular cultural exchanges with Ningbo.