Students see real mainland

• Source: Global Times
• [21:53 July 07 2009]
• Comments

Students pose near a sculpture exhibition at Qinling Zhongnanshan Tunnel in Shaanxi Province Friday.

The summer visit, jointly organized by Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University and National Chung Hsing University, aims at offering firsthand experience of traditional Chinese culture for university students from Taiwan.

“This visit shows them another side of the mainland that they might not know,” said Jiang Baujen, professor of Chung Hsing University, “not only the fabulous metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai, but also the less developed yet culturally rich Loess Plateau in western Shaanxi province.”

It was a student’s remark that first inspired Professor Jiang to organize the trip to Shaanxi Province.

“I remember a student I met here last year said that he barely knew any students from Taiwan.
Then I thought, maybe I could help boost the communication channel between them.”
On their way back to school yesterday, they were stuck in a traffic jam in the middle of nowhere in the countryside. Professor Jiang learned that his students did not feel comfortable using the dirty little toilets.

“I was not surprised because they had no idea about the gap between the city and the countryside.”

Li Shuying, dean of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, said the journey of discovery lubricates cross-Straits communication.

“I hope when they return to Taiwan, they can send a message to attract more students to come and visit.”

Shaanxi Province is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilizations with a long history and traditional culture.