Serbian students explore traditional culture in Jinhua's ancient village

Serbian students experience stone rubbing in Yafangbu village in Jinhua. [Photo/Tide News]

A group of students from the Confucius Institute at University of Novi Sad in Serbia visited Yafangbu village in Jindong district, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on July 28, immersing themselves in stone rubbing and fan making to experience China's rural vitalization efforts intertwined with traditional culture.

The event was part of the "Chinese Bridge" exchange program, organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation and hosted by Zhejiang A&F University.

Located beside the Dongyang River in Jinhua, Yafangbu — an ancient commercial port designated as a cultural heritage site in Zhejiang — has transformed into a vibrant hub blending tradition with modernity.

Through restoring architecture and promoting its "Yayin Fangbu" cultural brand, the village has ignited art-related construction, folk tourism, wetland exploration, and leisure industries while preserving its historical essence.

Guided by Zhang Jianzhong, an expert at a stone rubbing museum, the Serbian participants learned traditional techniques to imprint patterns from ancient tiles. They later transferred their artwork onto round fans, creating unique souvenirs that embodied connections between Chinese village traditions and global learners.

Zhao Youhua, dean of ZAFU's International College, emphasized the visit allowed the students not only to appreciate the ancient architecture but also to experience the charm of stone rubbing, deepening cross-cultural understanding.