Dong was struck by how curious and respectful visitors were. He noticed their genuine interest in every display.

"Even when they encountered something familiar — like the "24 solar terms", which also exist in Japanese culture — they didn't take it for granted. Instead, they were excited to see the cultural connections between the two countries," he said.

Zhang Jingyuan, 24, a Japanese interpreting major, shared how small interactions could spark meaningful bonds. She was surprised by how many visitors could identify specific pandas in China and even recall their names.

"When I greeted them with a panda model in hand, many Japanese visitors expressed how sad they were that pandas are no longer in Japan," she said, touched by the strong connection people have with these iconic Chinese symbols.