Programme: Discover Lingnan Cultural Tour
Partner Institution: Shaoguan University
Period: April 7—10, 2023
It is my pleasure that I was able to take part in the Discover Lingnan Cultural Tour organized by Shaoguan College. The pandemic resulted in the cancellation of all cultural exchange tours for a period of three years; the Shaoguan tour was the first one I participated in after the pandemic was declared over.
The primary motivation for signing up for this excursion was to get away from Hong Kong for the Easter holiday and to gain exposure to the culture of an unfamiliar location. I am originally from Hunan, but I always imagined that Lingnan was where my origins were. I was surprised to learn that this is actually not the truth.
It was a wonderful experience to see three different students from different locations meet and become friends in just a few days during the Shaoguan trip because, unlike other exchange groups, it brought together students from various institutions in Hong Kong and Macau, in addition to local students from Shaoguan College. As I mentioned on the final day of the group sharing, what drew me to Shaoguan was not only the breathtaking landscape of Danxia Mountain and the priceless historical legacy of the Maaba people but also the possibility to meet individuals of my own age from other areas throughout the trip. In just four days and three nights, we were able to build a profound bond by exchanging information about our histories, hobbies, and aspirations for the future. This is something I will always value and for which I am thankful.
Overall, the journey to Shaoguan not only allowed us to take in the breathtaking views of the southern part of the country but also provided us with the time to engage in conversation with one another and develop our relationship as a group. I really do hope that our paths may cross again one day!
