Shinan district, Qingdao hosted the "2024 – 2025 Tourism and Cultural Capital of the SCO" Exchange Week and "International Friends@Qingdao" Event at four universities from March 20 to 21.

The universities include Ocean University of China, Qingdao University, China University of Petroleum, and Shandong University of Science and Technology.

The event featured five intangible cultural heritage practitioners and folk artists from Shinan, who shared traditional skills such as incense making, tea art performances, embroidery, and calligraphy lessons with international students.

During the activities, these students crafted incense seals, witnessed the entire Laoshan green tea brewing process and tasted it, practiced calligraphy, and created embroidered souvenirs.

The students learn embroidery techniques from an intangible cultural heritage practitioner. [Photo/WeChat account: Shinanly]

On the day of the event, representatives of cultural and tourism enterprises in Shinan, including the Qingdao Olympic Sailing and Marine Culture Tourist Areas, conducted on-site promotions. They shared a diverse range of cultural and creative products with international students, introduced Qingdao's maritime culture, and promoted China's first large-scale immersive maritime epic musical drama.

The activities attracted about 100 international students, who experienced the charm of intangible cultural heritage up close, further deepening their understanding of China.