Over the weekend, 26 international students and faculty members from the School of Economics (SOE) at Fudan University embarked on a two-day cultural trip to Yixing, a city of Jiangsu Province on the western bank of Taihu Lake, hailed as the “Pottery Capital” of China.
Students heading towards the Bamboo Sea Scenic Spot
The rich clay deposits beneath the city made Zisha or “Purple Clay” Teapots long sought after by tea drinkers and scholars of China, and such teapots have been exported to Europe since the 17th century. Paul Pillsticker, a student from the University of Göttingen, got himself a Zisha cat figurine. “It’s great that they have so many figures made from the clay. I chose the cat as a gift for my mom because she likes cat a lot,” Paul said.
Paul is carefully choosing among the clay decorations
Maria Uzquiano, a Bolivian exchange student from the University of Göttingen, purchased a Zisha tea cup. “It’s quite unique, with colorful flower decorations. Amazing!”
Maria is checking out a tea cup in a shop on Shushan Ancient South Street
Students immersed themselves in a hands-on session of creativity, crafting their own clay masterpieces. They embarked on a tactile adventure, designing, molding, and brought to life the enchanting figures of the Twelve Zodiac Animals. Among them, Maria shared her personal touch, “I chose to create a butterfly, inspired by the poignant tale of the Butterfly Lovers.”
Creating their own clay wares
The story Maria refered to is the famous legend of LIANG Shanbo and ZHU Yingtai, the so-called “Chinese Romeo and Julie”, and many in China hold a deep conviction that Yixing is the sacred ground where the heart-wrenching love story unfolded. According to legend, Yingtai disguised herself as a boy to pursue her education and fell in love with Shanbo. Upon returning home, her parents arranged her marriage to a wealthy man. Shanbo, realizing his love for her, was heartbroken when he learned of her marriage and died from grief. On Yingtai’s wedding day, her tears caused Shanbo’s grave to split open, allowing her to enter. In death, they transformed into butterflies which symbolize their eternal love and courage of breaking free from societal constraints.
Listening to the story of the Butterfly Lovers
Students were introduced to this story during their visit to Shanjuan Cave. The cave itself is a natural wonder, featuring stalactites in various shapes.
Enjoying an immersive multimedia experience in Shanjuan Cave
“I love how they present the Butterfly Lovers story,” said Selena, a freshman in the Undergraduate International Program in Economics from Vietnam. “It’s just like what I saw in the movies.” “I like the concepts and stories embedded in the design, such as the yin and yang represented by the stones and water,” said Maria, sharing the same feelings.
Taking photos in front of the waterfall in Shanjuan Cave
In addition to its love story and clay culture, Yixing is renowned for its lush bamboo forests. During the trip, students hiked in the Yixing Bamboo Forest, immersing themselves in nature. “It’s my first time seeing a bamboo forest. Even though I didn’t make it to the top, I still enjoyed it a lot,” said Truc Ngan, a Ph.D. student from Vietnam.
Hiking in the Bamboo Forest
“In northern Italy, where I come from, there are a lot of mountains too,” said Lorenzo Provinciale, an Italian student from the dual-degree master’s program with the University of Groningen. “It’s nice to take a break and exchange ideas with students from all around the world.”
Arriving at the top of a mountain inside the Bamboo Forest park
Chatting with local tourists
“It’s challenging, but it also brings fresh air to our lungs—a wonderful getaway from urban life,” Selena remarked. While hiking, students chatted with local Chinese visitors, sharing their stories and experiences of studying in China.
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Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Writer: WANG Jingyang
Photographer: WANG Jingyang
