City walk in Shanghai

**A Citywalk from Century-Old Bund to Intangible Cultural Heritage Tea City | SNAI International Students' "Experience China" Cultural Tour**

On May 8, under a pleasant breeze and sunshine that marked the transition from spring to summer, 32 international students of the 2024 intake at Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI) embarked on a unique "Experience China" cultural journey. From the century-old buildings of the Bund, to the literary cruise ship on North Bund, and finally to the aromatic tea culture at Da Ning Tea City, the students explored the city's cultural veins with their footsteps and experienced cultural integration with all their senses.

**Tracing the Bund – "Reading" Shanghai Amidst Historic Buildings**

In the early morning, the students set off from No.1 The Bund. Gazing at the diverse architectural styles of the international buildings, they looked back on the century-long history of Shanghai as a port opening to the outside world. Every brick and tile guided them through a time-spanning urban and cultural journey.

Later, they visited Hongshufang, a new cultural landmark on the North Bund. This "literary cruise ship" stands by the river, facing the Lujiazui skyline and with the Waibaidu Bridge at its back. In the Nobel Prize in Literature collection area, the students paused to read world classics. In front of the exhibition wall featuring renowned Chinese and international figures who visited Shanghai, they learned about the connections of luminaries such as Einstein and Tagore to the city. "Walking through Shanghai's historic neighborhoods up close is more intuitive and striking than reading about them in books," shared Bi De, a student from Sierra Leone's Mariqu University and class president of the 2025 cohort.

**Exploring Tea City – "Tasting" China Through Tea and Water**

In the afternoon, the itinerary turned to Da Ning International Tea City. This is not only a tea trading market but also a window for intangible cultural heritage preservation and cultural exchange. General Manager Ye Yingchun systematically explained China's six major tea categories, eloquently detailing everything from the refined elegance of aged tangerine white tea to the rich depth of Pu'er. The students observed tea colors, savored tea aromas, and tasted tea infusions, experiencing firsthand the thousand-year-old tea customs and Eastern aesthetic of living.

How does finance support the real economy? The tea itself holds the answer. Zhang Jianguo, former deputy director of the Shanghai Financing Guarantee Center, shared the entrepreneurial story of how the tea city grew from scratch into a comprehensive platform with policy support. This was not only a business case study but also a vivid lesson in observing the vitality of China's market economy and the growth trajectory of small and micro enterprises.

Visiting the Tea Museum and exploring various specialty tea shops along the street, the students appreciated the Eastern philosophy of "harmony in diversity" amidst the fragrant tea mist. "In my country, we also drink tea, but China's tea culture is incredibly rich," said Mo Mulan, a student from Myanmar. "In every cup of tea, there is history, philosophy, and the art of business."

**Bridging Hearts – "Sharing" China Through Cultural Integration**

On the return bus, the students spontaneously hummed songs from their homelands, filling the journey with laughter and joy.

Using footsteps as a medium and tea fragrance as a bridge, this event facilitated a subtle yet profound exchange of civilizations, allowing cross-cultural friendships to take root in their hearts. Looking ahead, the institute will continue to innovate its signature "Reading China – Experience China" brand, embedding cross-cultural communication competence development into the very fabric of the city and its commercial pulse.