Bonds of culture bind us together

Global Gen Zers share their stories and perspectives on Chinese cultural connections in our increasingly globalized world in China Daily's Youth Power, Gui Qian reports.

Gathering in London, the United Kingdom, young people from China and other countries and regions around the world discussed their understanding of Chinese culture and cultural exchanges under the theme "The bonds of culture".

These Gen Zers appeared in the latest episode of the China Daily's video program Youth Power, which was broadcast online on June 30.

The host and all invited guests of the episode have been living, studying or working in China, the UK and other parts of the world. The moments when they encounter Chinese culture in the UK are memorable, most of which are associated with Chinese food.

Hot pot seems to have become a signature Chinese dish overseas in recent years. Kevan Kennedy, a PhD student at Cambridge University, UK, recalled the time when his Sichuan friend invited him to have a Sichuan hot pot for the new year celebration.

"It was literally the best food I've ever had in my life," he said. But what has impressed him even more is the Chinese feeling of family and their embrace of the world. "When you become good friends with Chinese people, you begin to realize that they really take you in and make you family."

Victor Kovalets, from Ukraine, has also noticed that hot pot is getting more popular overseas. "Around 10, 15 years ago, most people in the West didn't know what hot pot was. Now there are so many hot pot restaurants. Everywhere you go, there are new Chinese restaurants opening up," he said.

Not only is Chinese food becoming more present in people's daily lives in the international community, but also Chinese technology and online platforms are taking off. The young guests shared their experience of using Chinese-brand smartphones like One-plus and Chinese apps such as TikTok and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book).

On these Chinese social media platforms, they search for information, make friends and organize events. Jamila James from the UK, for example, has been posting vlogs on Xiaohongshu, as she has found that Chinese people want to know more about the British lifestyle. "This is how I'm bridging the gap between the Chinese and the British," she said.

Yu Lutong, from China, thinks it's a good thing that China's technological influence is growing and people across the globe are getting more connected. "We know more about other people, and we can learn more things from them," he said.

Sam Hardy from the UK is a student at the University of London and will come to China in September to study at Beijing Normal University. He is not only learning about Chinese culture but also introducing it to more people in the UK. When he visited China in 2019, he enjoyed pingtan music in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, and developed an interest in traditional Chinese musical instruments. After returning to the UK, he joined the Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo Ensemble at his university, learned many different styles of traditional Chinese music, and later performed all over the south of England with the ensemble.

In his eyes, music allows for a very special type of cross-cultural exchange. He learned that as early as in China's Xia and Shang dynasties, music was a language of cross-cultural exchange between China and its neighbors, and it continues to be so to this day. The rise of many traditional Chinese instrument ensemble groups on social media is a good example.

"They perform not only Chinese pieces, but also popular foreign classical works. It is because of this blending of that which is innately Chinese and non-Chinese that I believe that they are a fantastic example of how music can be a language that transcends languages," he said in his speech at Youth Power.

Although cultural exchanges are thriving between countries, they sometimes face challenges and controversies. Some cultural exchange activities are labeled as "cultural appropriation", which has become a buzzword in recent years, especially online.

On this topic, Lisa Maslova, from Russia, mentioned last year's scandal of the French luxury brand Dior drawing inspiration from China's horse face skirt but failing to mention it. "We should acknowledge where we get our inspiration from. Similarly, when you're doing academic writing for a PhD, you use references," she said. "So I think whenever you're being inspired by certain cultural values or certain traditional trends, just make sure you acknowledge that, and that'd be cool."

Kevin Zhu, who is both British and American, is now studying strategic entrepreneurship and innovation at King's College London. He attaches importance to people's intentions when they show interest in other cultures. "For example, if I see an English person wearing traditional Chinese clothing, sure, I don't mind if they wear it with pride, if they wear it respectfully, if they genuinely show interest in the culture and if they don't try to deface the culture or the representation in any way — then I am all for it," he explained.

He compares culture to something that can be mixed in the melting pot of one's own life and character and thinks that it "should not be able to be 'stolen' or 'appropriated'".

When summarizing important lessons to take away from the controversies, Zhong Yutong, the program host, said that youngsters should be more active in working with people from different cultures and should keep asking questions.

"'Working with' means that you see them as equal, respectful, and of course, very different people as well," he said. "And we shouldn't stop asking questions or stop learning about each other just because we are afraid of falling into the trap of stereotypes."

This resonates with Luo Xiaoyao, a Chinese actor who studies art in the UK and plays characters from different countries on stage. She once played a young single French lady in Sunday in the Park With George, a Swedish teenage girl in A Little Night Music, and an American-born-Chinese college student from UCLA's sorority Delta Nu in Legally Blonde.

"For me, bringing these characters to life requires a deep understanding of their cultural context and a willingness to immerse myself in a world that is not my own," she said. "By acknowledging the potential of individuals to represent their cultures and by fostering open dialogue and exchange, we can cultivate a world that is more accepting, compassionate, and appreciative of diverse cultures and viewpoints."

Contact the writer at guiqian@i21st.cn