On July 14-15, 2018, as part of the summer school activities organized by Shanghai International Studies University, more than 100 students from countries along the routes taken by the Belt and Road initiative visited Caoyang New Village in the Putuo District of Shanghai, the first community in the city that has opened up to the outside world to allow foreign visitors to experience local culture by engaging in the daily life of locals.

International students first visited the village history exhibition center to have a glimpse of how it has changed over the past 67 years. About noon, they toured the biggest farmer’s market in Caoyang, which has been built on a section of an old railway line. They then shared a meal with local families, and experienced colorful cultural activities such as learning calligraphy and paper cutting, and picking up a few words in shanghai dialect. In the afternoon, they visited the community cultural center and joined local residents who were practicing singing, playing games and enjoying other recreational activities.

International students visiting the library in the community cultural center of Caoyang New Village [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students visiting the history exhibition center of Caoyang New Village [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students having lunch at a local resident’s home [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students visiting the library in the community cultural center of Caoyang New Village [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students playing ping pong in the community cultural center of Caoyang New Village [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students visiting the Caoyang Farmer’s Market [[Photo/SISU-OISA]

International students joining local residents in conducting a cultural activity [[Photo/SISU-OISA]