The first cohort of 20 volunteers, drawn from 12 universities, departed for Japan on April 2 and completed their two-month service on June 6.Among them were nine students from BFSU.

During their time in Osaka, Dong and his schoolmates worked in the protocol team, helping guide guests through the China Pavilion.

For 25-year-old volunteer Wu Yuxi, the Expo's cultural diversity left a deep impression. She observed how each country's pavilion presented a unique reflection of its identity.

"The China Pavilion highlighted our 5,000-year cultural heritage, while the Japan Pavilion stood out for its elegance and attention to detail. The France Pavilion centered around love, and the US Pavilion showcased cutting-edge space technology," she said.

One exhibit in the China Pavilion particularly moved her: Gengzhitu (Illustrations of Tilling and Weaving) from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), considered the world's earliest agricultural encyclopedia.

Originally 46 pages long, it had been transformed into a five-page animation using modern technology.

"It was a powerful example of how digital tools can help bring Chinese history to life for a global audience," she said.