Reaping the fruits of labor

International students in Dalian get a firsthand glimpse of idyllic rural Chinese life.

Toktomatova Tursunai, an international student from Kyrgyzstan who is studying at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE), visited a rural village in the western outskirts of Dalian, Liaoning province, last month to witness China's rural vitalization in action.

"Fresh off the tree, the cherries are really delicious," said the 22-year-old. "It was the first time for me to pick cherries from a tree and also the first time to see so many different varieties of cherries at an orchard."

On June 19, 100 international students from six universities in Dalian participated in the social practice and cultural experience activity.

In Cha'an village of Ganjingzi district, the students visited the local kindergarten, the Party service square, a village-owned company, and ecological scenic spots to learn about the village infrastructure and the living conditions of residents.

"It was an unforgettable experience to witness the rural life there and be surrounded by nature, chatting with students from different countries," Tursunai said in fluent Chinese. "The teacher gave us a lecture there about China's 'Three Rural Issues' (agriculture, rural areas and farmers). By being immersed in the environment there, I could better understand the content of the lecture."

The undergraduate student studied Chinese at a Confucius Institute in her homeland. She was awarded an International Chinese Language Teachers Scholarship and got the chance to study for a semester at DUFE in Dalian from March to July.

As she is about to return home, Tursunai feels reluctant to part from the coastal city's good weather and beautiful sea. She said she plans to apply for postgraduate study in China.

Through this activity, the international students gained a better understanding of Dalian's efforts and achievements in implementing China's rural vitalization strategy — improving infrastructure and strengthening social governance at the grassroots level.

The village, which boasts forest, lake, mountain and grassland, is a leisure and entertainment hot spot for people in Dalian. While experiencing some of the scenic facilities, international students also learned about the development of an experiential education base and fruit cultivation research practice base.

When the staff said that people could enjoy camping, barbecuing, and fishing in summer, as well as skiing in winter, some of the students said that they would come back with their friends for a trip.

"China is developing not only its urban areas but also rural areas. In rural areas, the development focuses on different aspects, for example, agriculture and tourism," said Carla Estefania Samaniego, 33, who comes from Ecuador.

She and her friends have visited the area many times.

"It is not far from downtown. It's like the backyard of the city," she said, adding that they can get there easily by subway and then bus.

"People who are living in this village are really having a good life surrounded by beautiful scenery and places to entertain," she commented.