Chinese and foreign youths visit Jiaxing, Zhejiang: Exploring red roots and practices of shared prosperity

China News Service, Jiaxing, September 30 (Huang Yanjun) Explore the history of the Red Boat, taste the "cultural flavor" of the century-old sauce garden, and feel the wisdom of shared prosperity behind a cup of "village coffee"... Recently, a group of Chinese and foreign young people followed the "Hi China! My Chinese Story" event and entered Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. They experienced firsthand the integration and collision of red roots, shared prosperity practices and Jiangnan culture, and understood the vivid practice of Chinese modernization in Jiahe.

Red roots that last for hundreds of years

"Beside the red boat, I first learned about Wang Huiwu's story, and I was deeply touched. She is really a brave woman, escorting an important meeting related to the future." Wei Quanhan (Handi) from Indonesia said with emotion. Thinking of his country's development past, he understood better that the achievements of any country's construction are inseparable from the hard work and perseverance of generations.

At the first stop of the trip, Chinese and foreign young people came to the bank of South Lake. When the echoes of history shine into the current reality, this red land has become an important window for young people at home and abroad to understand the historical origins of Chinese modernization.

In Jiaxing, Zhejiang, Chinese and foreign youths walked into the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. Photo provided by the organizer

In recent years, Jiaxing has deeply explored red cultural resources, launched the "Re-traveling the Great Road" red tourism route in the new era, created a series of red boat cultural and creative products, carefully constructed an "immersive" narrative field, and transformed the century-old story of the Red Boat's sailing into a vivid practice of international communication in multiple forms.

In the Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Jiaxing, Chinese and foreign young people started a dialogue with the memorial hall’s commentator: How to tell the story of the Red Boat to Chinese and foreign audiences in a more vivid language? How to eliminate cultural differences and allow overseas audiences to understand the spiritual core behind the story?

Zhang Chuyan, a bilingual commentator at the memorial hall, explained patiently: "In the face of overseas audiences, simply listing historical facts will cause a sense of distance. We need to break away from grand narratives and find common emotions so that revolutionary stories can transcend regional differences and truly penetrate the hearts of the people."

After the visit, Nguyen Khanh Linh from Vietnam said that the story of the Red Ship left a deep impression on her. "From a small boat to a big party, the revolutionary process is not easy. Only by standing on this land can we understand its weight." She said frankly that many countries in Southeast Asia are exploring development paths that suit their national conditions. The Chinese-style modernization practice path led by the Communist Party of China has reference significance for many developing countries.

Outside the exhibition hall, tourists are bustling and the blue waves of South Lake are rippling. A piece of history remains here, attracting generations of young people to understand the past and see the present.

Butterfly changes in rural areas paint a picture of shared prosperity

In Fengyi Village, Haiyan County, in early autumn, a sea of flowers blooms, and the gorgeous scenery outlines the concrete appearance of a beautiful countryside.

On the side of a rural road, a new space for a tea hotel is particularly eye-catching. Sunlight shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the high space complements the tea garden outside the window.

According to Sheng Wanghan, a student from Zhejiang Normal University who paired up with Ruan Qingling, this trendy space hidden in the countryside has broken many people's inherent impression of traditional villages.

"In the past, when talking about rural areas, many people would think of backwardness and isolation, but young and lively creative industries can also grow in rural areas. Ordinary people can share the dividends of industrial development at their doorsteps. This is a vivid manifestation of common prosperity." Sheng Wanghan said.

In Jiaxing, Zhejiang, Chinese and foreign young people enter the rural tea tourism space. Photo provided by the organizer

The transformation of a space reflects the transformation of the entire village.

Twenty years ago, this was a dusty mining village with no grass growing on it. Since 2006, Fengyi Village has made up its mind to "not sell stones but scenery" and has embarked on a path of integrated development of agriculture, culture and tourism. In 2025, the village's total collective economic income will reach 6.2553 million yuan, and it will receive nearly 1.08 million tourists.

In Jiaxing, it is not uncommon for villages to undergo such a "gorgeous turn". Not far from Fengyi Village, Xueshigang Village in Haiyan County is also experiencing vivid practice of rural revitalization.

As one of the first batch of future villages in Zhejiang Province, the village has successively built smart medical care, nearby diagnosis and treatment and other convenient projects, continued to improve elderly care services, and truly protected the health and daily happiness of villagers.

Zhang Dunjie from Ningbo is a rural cadre. During this trip, he paid special attention to the development paths of rural characteristics and the operation model of rural cultural tourism. During the research process, he often communicated with fellow foreign youths to discuss the practical dilemmas and development options faced by rural areas in different countries.

"Whether it is China or foreign countries, rural development cannot copy existing models. The key is to find a development path that suits one's own reality." Zhang Dunjie said, "This exchange with young people from various countries has also gained a lot of perspectives from outside the region. I hope to further optimize the development ideas of our village."

The flow of context and the symbiosis of ancient and modern encounters

"Shendang is the prototype of 'Sundang' in Yu Hua's literary works, and Shendang brewing has a history of more than a hundred years. In recent years, we have explored the cultural heritage of soy sauce and rice wine, bringing old flavors into the public eye in a trendy way." In Shendang Town, Haiyan County, Pang Weihua, deputy general manager of Shendang Brewing Co., Ltd. introduced.

Outside the brewery, a small river flows, and Jiangnan buildings with white walls and black tiles stand near the water.

"This is the first time I have seen Chinese brewing techniques. In Vietnam, we also make wine at home, and I want to take the rice wine produced here to my parents to try." Looking at the surrounding water town scenery, Ruan Qingling said, "My hometown is also a water town city, but it is very different from Jiaxing in the way of urban and rural construction. After the on-site visit, I have more thoughts on how water town cities can protect their traditions and move toward modernization."

At present, in many places in Jiaxing, many "sleeping" cultural resources are coming out of the warehouse and entering modern life in a way that can be seen, felt, and experienced.

Silk clothing, silk bedding, cocoon cultural creations... In Yunlong Village, Haining, which is famous for its silkworm industry, a variety of creative silkworm products attracted the attention of Ago Abel from Benin, Africa.

In Jiaxing, Zhejiang, foreign youths experience silkworm handicrafts. Photo provided by the organizer

"This time I learned about the production process of mulberry silk and silk on the spot in Jiaxing, and I saw new opportunities for trade." Mao Yabo, who studied abroad at Ningbo University, chose to take root in Ningbo after graduation to run an international trading company and build a bridge for economic and trade exchanges between China and Africa.

Mao Yabo said that many African countries also have rich handicraft resources, but lack value conversion channels. Jiaxing has turned old crafts into a complete industry, which not only maintains its cultural roots but also creates economic value. This model is worthy of reference.

Silkworms, silk, small bridges and flowing water carry the heritage of the water town and bear witness to the two-way connection between the past and the present. Wuzhen, located in Tongxiang, is a shining "pearl" in this blending and symbiosis.

It is the peak tourist season, and Wuzhen is crowded with tourists. Here, on one side is the Jiangnan ancient charm with white walls and black tiles, and on the other side, the Wuzhen Internet International Convention and Exhibition Center stands on the riverside, fully demonstrating the "sense of science and technology" of the town.

"Jiaxing is a very livable city, with both the poetry of Jiangnan and the prosperity of Internet technology." Walking through the streets of Wuzhen, Wei Quanhan said that like many Chinese cities, Jiaxing's historical inheritance and modernization go hand in hand. "This is my first time to experience the urban development of Zhejiang in depth. I will record what I see and hear during this trip and spread the true and vivid Chinese stories."

An in-depth dialogue that spans countries and cultures is not only an acquaintance between different civilizations, but also a vivid window for Chinese and foreign young people to observe the real China.

According to reports, this event was guided by the Propaganda Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Zhejiang Branch of China News Service, and hosted by the Zhejiang New Era Youth Theory Propaganda Volunteer Alliance. Next, Chinese and foreign young people will visit many places in Zhejiang, use their lenses to freeze the story of China's modernization development, and deliver the multidimensional "Zhejiang voice" to the world.