From July 23 to 30, with the help of the Friends of Guling Mr. And Mrs. Cheng Gordon, seven teachers and students from the University of Puget Sound were invited to Fujian for an eight-day exchange visit. The visiting American students all have a Chinese language learning background and a keen interest in Asian culture. During the visit, they toured Quanzhou and Fuzhou, visited historical sites, experienced Chinese culture, tasted local food, and learned about the history of Fujian. They were accompanied by teachers and students from the Foreign Affairs Office, the Student Affairs Office, the Department of Culture and Education, and the Department of International Business Management.
On July 24, the delegation’s first stop was Quanzhou, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. They visited Kaiyuan Temple, Qingjing Temple, Overseas Transportation History Museum and Luoyang Bridge. Through browsing collections, objects and pictures, listening to the introduction of the docents, they have a deep understanding of Quanzhou's cultural customs and historical changes. Among them, the Emperor Yongle Imperial Stone Engravings displayed in Qingjing Temple has left a deep impression on American teachers and students. It is not only a historical witness of China-Arab friendship and cultural exchanges, but also a witness of the glorious history of the Quanzhou Maritime Silk Road.
On the 25th, the delegation arrived in Fuzhou. Hwa Nan teachers and students, together with friends from afar, made dumplings and other traditional Chinese food, and held an English discussion on famous quotes. Vice President Huang Leijing and other teachers showed the excellent traditional Chinese culture to American teachers and students, which aroused their keen interest.
On the 27th, Hwa Nan organized teachers and students of the two schools to visit the famous historical and cultural village of Linpu, the Memorial Hall of Lin Zexu, the Three Lanes and Seven alleys and other scenic spots, so that the visiting teachers and students could further understand the historical changes of Fuzhou.
On the morning of the 28th, teachers and students of the two schools visited the former site of Hwa Nan College and the Yan Tai Shan campus. When seeing the Trimble Hall, the delegation felt very cordial since the University of Puget Sound has another Trimble Hall on campus.
On the 29th, the teachers and students of the two schools participated in the Guling Love exchange meeting at Guling. President Ren Jianhong delivered a speech at the meeting, and representatives of the two schools exchanged gifts to show their friendship. In the afternoon, the teachers and students of the two schools continued to visit the iconic scenic spots of Guling, further deepening their understanding of the culture of Guling.
This study tour was the fifth visit of the University of Puget Sound delegation to Hwa Nan. The enduring friendship between the two schools has benefited from the support of the Trimbles. Since 2008, the Trimble Foundation has sponsored four groups of teachers and students from University of Puget Sound to visit Fujian, and Hwa Nan has received nearly 100 teachers and students from Pudget Sound. The origin of this cooperation can be traced back to 1994, when Fuzhou City and Tacoma City of the United States entered into a sister city, and Hwa Nan established a long-term cooperation with the University of Puget Sound located in Tacoma. The University of Puget Sound regularly selects young female teachers to teach in Hwa Nan, which is fully supported by the Trimble Foundation. Until now, the cooperation has lasted for 30 years.
Young people are the future of a country and the hope of the world. This exchange has enhanced the understanding and appreciation of each other's cultures, and the seeds of today's exchanges will surely take root and sprout in the future and blossom into even more brilliant flowers of cooperation.