Telling China's story

To Zhu, the two-day trip was a great opportunity for young participants to gain a deeper understanding of China's modernization.

"They saw firsthand how rural border areas are upgrading their infrastructure and transitioning from traditional farming to smart agriculture. They also observed the contrast between urban and rural development, realizing that modernization in China isn't limited to big cities — it's reaching far into the countryside," he said.

The international students also took on the role of "folk cultural ambassadors", helping to tell China's story to a global audience.

Throughout the trip, they actively documented their experiences and reflections in their native languages, posting videos on platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu (Red-Note), a popular Chinese lifestyle app.

"By sharing their time in China on social media, they not only improve their cross-cultural communication skills but also become bridges for international exchange," said Kai Lin, a teacher at the Overseas Students Affairs Office of BFSU and a leader of the program.

In the future, BFSU plans to expand the initiative to more rural areas across Yunnan, with the goal of covering all eight border prefectures — Nujiang, Baoshan, Dehong, Lincang, Pu'er, Honghe, Wenshan, and Xishuangbanna — in the next three to five years.

Wang Yichen contributed to this story.