Chinese Culture trip to Qingpu Villages

“The courage to explore leads us onto further paths; the passion to experience things allows us to perceive the profundity of life.” To let our humanities and history students feel the pulse of the Earth and the charm of the countryside, we split into two groups and ventured into Zhangma and Cenbu Villages, immersing ourselves in the countryside and experiencing life on this vibrant landscape.

More than six thousand years ago, Qingpu was home to the splendid Songze prehistoric culture: the beginning of its agricultural civilization. As time went by, the tranquil, quaint, and durable rural elements transformed the lake and mountain scenery. Zhangma and Cenbu are its two most brilliant pearls.

Zhangma Village

The first group of students arrived at Zhangma Village; during the journey, the beauty of the countryside captivated them. We arrived at the village committee building and when we opened its large doors, a tableau of history unfolded before us. Each scene captured the essence of the rural spirit: from the ancient, raised-field system to the recent ‘Beautiful Countryside’ construction.

Led by the village committee staff, we walked into the rural meeting hall where a group of elderly men was at leisure; everyone came up and warmly welcomed us in the tradition of rural hospitality. Afterwards, we visited the ‘smart’ rural service-center. Our guide explained that villagers do not now need to leave the village to handle social security business, online medical treatment, policy consulting, and other services. This saves them from tedious and time-consuming procedures in the town.

The students continued to measure the warmth of the land with their feet. The striking design of the nearby Zhangma Tourist Center drew everyone’s attention. Here, we saw the meeting of art and the rural. The modern library in the visitor center was like a learned young scholar who humbly encounters this ancient and beautiful countryside. Outside the windows were golden rice fields, with their beauty in full view. The students took turns enjoying the pleasure of reading in the rural library.

Next, we came to the Mao Tower in the Sun Island Resort area of Zhangma Village. This is a five-tiered, four-sided, brick-wood-pagoda-style Buddhist stupa, and is one of the oldest existing lighthouses in the country. This thousand-year-old tower, with its unique architectural style and profound cultural heritage, has attracted countless tourists and scholars.

During the free-activity time after lunch, the students went deep into the village to interview the local villagers and understand their lives. People no longer wish to escape from the countryside but are willing to stay and change the status quo. We found that many young professionals with skills in areas such as design and construction planning are beginning to move into the countryside, hoping to add modern beauty to traditional rural areas.

Walking round the village’s homestays, coffee shops, small taverns, restaurants, and tea houses, we experienced more of Zhangma Village and its blending of tradition and modernity. The elegant, clean, old village was full of vitality, fruits, and vegetables; its melodious and tranquil notes could be heard even in the most ordinary places.

Cenbu Village

The second group arrived in Cenbu village and embarked on their mystery tour. Cenbu is like a hill of beautiful, multi-coloured cultural treasures. The scenery here is poetic and picturesque; daily life has a kind of unintended artistry.

As soon as we entered Cenbu, we were attracted by the beautiful scenery. Green trees gave shade to both sides of the wide and tidy village road, and the white-walled, grey-tiled residential houses were arranged in an orderly manner. The village is surrounded by rivers, with clear waves rippling, and its ecology is pristine. From time to time, passing kayaks splashed. We learned that, in the recent development and transformation process, Cenbu Village has paid particular attention to ecological protection, integrating technology with nature to renew the village’s appearance.

Under the guidance of the village staff, we took a country walk around the village. There were many ancient buildings containing cafes and tea houses, each telling a tale of leisure and comfort. The guest house courtyards and healing spaces were so inviting that one couldn’t help but pause to enjoy them. The rice harvest was at hand; the roar of tractors piqued our curiosity.

After a brief tour of the village, the students arrived at the workshop of Mu’el Manor. The manor’s owner, Dr. Kang, has a PhD in Biology. Because of her love of nature and this land, she has been conducting long-term field research in Cenbu Village for twelve years. Under the guidance of Dr. Kang, the students had a lively biology lesson, where everyone enthusiastically gathered in the harvest while enjoying the magic of nature.

After enjoying lunch with food from the ecological fields, the students began their independent exploration. Everyone wanted to talk to the villagers, both old and new, eager to learn everything about the place. Through interviewing the villagers, we gained a more intuitive understanding of the vitality and serenity of the rural atmosphere.

Cindy Zhang

Full of excitement and expectation, I came to Zhangma Village, where the rural landscape is almost primitive, brimming with vitality. The villagers were passionate and introduced us to the special culture of their own countryside. This village experience allowed me to better understand rural life.”

Melody He

Walking on the country roads was like stepping into a poem about the human world. I saw a little dog happily running around me. On the road, there was a warm-hearted shop owner who invited us to have some tea in his shop. There were also residents who were very keen to help us with our interview questions. Their sincerity and love for each other, their willingness to help each other, filled my heart with awe and respect when contemplating nature and life.

Jerry Wang

The field trip was too short, but it helped me better understand various aspects of the countryside, such as how they harvest straw and what each machine is used for. This trip also increased my team-working skills and improved my organizational planning ability. I hope there will be more opportunities to understand different life experiences in the future.

This trip was not just an exploration of nature, but also a meeting of history and modernity, an embrace of nature and humanity. We need our children to know that the countryside is the root and soul of all Chinese people. Here we discovered where we came from and where we are going.

Standing at the intersection of Zhangma and Cenbu villages, and looking back at the vast Huangpu River, we understood that the countryside is not an island forgotten by the world, but a lasting gentleness on Earth. In this fast-paced era, it is even more important to embrace the land and listen to the echo of voices in the rural valleys. This experience encouraged students to experience more, to feel the pulse of history and culture with their hands, and to hold the strength of nature in their hearts.

By visiting the most beautiful villages in Qingpu, each group simultaneously explored and learned from their experience in two of the world’s most beautiful towns. They then embarked on designing their envisioned ‘paradises’, creating future conceptual design plans for rural areas.