Portuguese students experience playing the guqin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
University students from Portugal experienced playing the guqin, practicing tai chi, and other intangible cultural heritage activities in Tianjin this summer. They also learned about Chinese mythology and classical poetry, deepening their understanding of traditional Chinese culture.
To further promote friendly exchanges between Chinese and Portuguese people and help more Portuguese youths understand China better, the School of English Studies at Tianjin Foreign Studies University has assembled a strong faculty team to launch the "Chinese Bridge: Portugal Student Delegation — A Cultural Journey in China" project.
"During the activities, students engaged in various intangible cultural heritage experiences, including appreciating the Yangliuqing woodblock New Year paintings, watching traditional Chinese guqin performances, making traditional Chinese round fans, and learning tai chi," said Zheng Siming, vice-dean of the School of English Studies at TFSU. "These activities allowed them to fully appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture."
Catarina Serra Vaz Pinto said, "While practicing tai chi, I felt very calm and relaxed, and I experienced the harmony between humans and nature in traditional Chinese culture."
Portuguese students learn to practice tai chi. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
"We were all very impressed by the skill of the teacher when we saw the professional guqin performance," said Gabriela Mourato Ramos.
Western instruments like the piano and violin are suited for playing dynamic or cheerful tunes, while the guqin is more adept at conveying soothing or solemn pieces, she added.
The project offers a series of cultural courses, integrating language learning with Chinese mythology and folklore, classical poetry, as well as contemporary economic and technological topics. This approach provides students with a comprehensive understanding of China's rich traditional culture and modern societal development, Zheng added.
"I enjoyed these courses, especially those on philosophy. For example, Confucian culture emphasizes core values such as benevolence, propriety, loyalty, and filial piety, and stresses harmonious relationships and social responsibility," said Apolo Filipe de Ramos Estrela. "These philosophies helped me better understand the Chinese people's mindset".
Portuguese students display their Yangliuqing New Year paintings. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Zheng also pointed out that the project takes students out of the classroom to explore the city, allowing them to personally experience Chinese culture and deepen their understanding of China.
"The Italian-style street in Tianjin perfectly blends Chinese and Western cultures, making me feel at home. If I were to live in China, I would choose to live in Tianjin," said Gabriela.
According to the website of the local government, Tianjin's Italian-style street integrates both Chinese and Western architectural styles. It features European elements such as Roman columns, arches, and sculptures in the Renaissance style, combined with Chinese patterns like cloud and key motifs on shop signs, creating a perfect fusion of cultures.
Tianjin left her with a strong impression of safety, Catarina said, "When I walk alone on the streets and by the Haihe River, every Tianjin citizen I encounter gives me a friendly and warm smile.
Chen Yijun and Bao Yan contributed to this story.
Portuguese students and the teacher take a photo by the Haihe River. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
新闻来源：https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202507/26/WS68844074a310ad07b5d92267_3.html
（网页编辑/金倍伊）
