From targeted poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, our university has maintained a long-standing and close relationship with Yunxi County. On May 19, 2023, coinciding with the 13th “China Tourism Day”, the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Hubei University of Automotive Technology organized more than 50 foreign teachers and students to visit Tianhe Shuangshigou Village, Guoshan Village in Jianchi Township, and Yangwei Town in Yunxi County, feeling the charm of rural revitalization, immersing themselves in Chinese traditional culture, and experiencing the achievements of new rural construction.

The first stop of this activity was Tianhe Shuangshigou Folk Village in Yunxi County. Passing through naturally formed village buildings surrounded by mountains and rivers, foreign teachers and students visited the Chinese traditional craft of dough figurine, named Qiqiao Flower Buns. The vivid and exquisite shapes of the flower buns, with a history of over 1000 years, fascinated the foreign teachers and students, who eagerly tasted and attempted to make them by themselves. Subsequently, they enjoyed a performance of the traditional Chinese wedding "Ten Li Dowry." International students were curious about this traditional wedding form, joining the welcoming procession and dancing together, immersing themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture. Entering the Tianhe Folk Custom Museum, foreign teachers and students explored exhibits such as farming culture, life corridor, wedding customs, Qixi Festival culture, and more, representing the epitome of the changes of the times. These handicrafts and old farming objects traced the trajectory of rural life on both sides of the Tianhe River, as if bringing these international youth in the new era back to a pure and industrious agrarian age.

The second stop took our foreign teachers to Guoshan Village in Jianchi Township, where they listened to our university's stationed village cadres describe efforts and contributions made in focusing on serving rural revitalization. They explored the newly built rural houses and the "one-stop" integrated service center, gaining insights into China's achievements in poverty alleviation and the strategy of rural revitalization. Foreign teachers expressed their willingness to contribute their efforts to China's rural revitalization.

To enhance the Chinese listening and speaking abilities of our foreign teachers and students, understand the status of English teaching in Chinese basic education, and promote cultural exchange, our foreign teachers and students visited the third stop - Yunxi County Yangwei Town Junior High School for language and cultural exchange activities. Foreign teachers YVAN, JENNY, and international student GINIAS introduced themselves and engaged in games and interactions with the junior high school students. The lively atmosphere was further heightened when the school teachers presented a panda painting to the international students. This activity provided grassroots middle school students with opportunities for English learning and improved English speaking abilities and intercultural communication competence.

Exploring rural revitalization provides a great opportunity for our diverse foreign teachers and students to witness the changes in Chinese villages, experience the charm of rural revitalization, and gain insights into China's past and present. Hubei University of Automotive Technology will guide foreign teachers and students to deepen their understanding of the beautiful Hubei and discover the splendor of Shiyan, promoting local culture and enhancing people-to-people bonds through cultural exchange between China and other countries.