Seeing is believing: Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong

Six Gen Zers from across the globe gathered at the Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong, a panel of the Global Youth Conference, on July 7 for a roundtable discussion to share their impressions of Shandong and Chinese culture after a themed journey around the province.

To begin the discussion, the young guests each chose a word to describe Shandong in their eyes and elaborated on their choices with real-life observations.

For Guo Yilin, who was born and raised in Shandong, the word she chose was, of course, "home". She feels that her personal growth is intertwined with the development of the province, where the culture has helped her develop the quality of integrity.

Chayan Yailert, from Thailand, loved the traditional culture of the "ancient" Shandong, while Dylan Austin Walker, from the US, appreciated the city's "innovation" — noting that a dynamic, old-meets-new Shandong gave the Gen Zers a lasting impression.

Botakoz Yelshibek, from Kazakhstan, saw many "opportunities" in such a dynamic environment after finishing a five-month internship in Jiaozhou, Shandong.

Nakahara Kosumosu, from Japan, was impressed by the "hospitality" of the Shandong people, which she felt was a reflection of the city's Confucian legacy.

Zheng Yaling, from Taiwan, China, celebrated the "connection "between people from Taiwan and Shandong. She mentioned the common appreciation across the Straits for beautiful poems, such as those by the Song Dynasty's famous female poet Li Qingzhao. She even sang a song by Teresa Teng — a song adapted from one of Li's poems. Zheng pointed out that Teng's mother was actually from Shandong, too.

Then the discussion focused on two topics — "history and modernity" and "the city and its people", with the young guests sharing their takeaways from the journey.

Nakahara talked of her discoveries at the Kite Museum in Weifang, the birthplace of kites. She said she was impressed by the symbolic meanings of Weifang kites, decorated with words and paintings themed after folktales, such as The Mouse Marrying off its Daughter. She believed that traditional handicrafts embody the wisdom of the people and should be well preserved even in the age of mass production. This reminded her of the craftsmanship celebrated in Japan, which is a quality that is evidently appreciated across cultures.

"Experiential activities can be a good means to promote understanding and help preserve these traditional handicrafts," Walker agreed.

Yailert mentioned his observations of the Chengziya Museum. "Relics like the black pottery are clear evidence of China's 5,000 years of civilization," he said. He considered it of great importance for young people to know about such history as it is what distinguishes people and helps the world prosper with diversity. He also marveled at the modern production system displayed at the Qilu Pharmaceutical Company and highlighted the importance of self-innovation.

Guo elaborated on this point with her study experiences in Beijing and London. "We should strengthen international cooperation while developing core technologies. Though we still have a long way to go, we are already on the way," she said.

Yelshibek observed that the infrastructure, policies and overall atmosphere of Shandong and China have created a supportive environment for entrepreneurship and transnational cooperation. "China-Kazakhstan exchanges are prospering with an active flow of goods and technologies," she said.

The Gen Zers recognized that one of the core characteristics of Chinese modernization is the balance between economic development and environmental protection. As a Jinan local, Guo appreciated the efforts the city has made to protect the Baotu Spring and conserve the groundwater. "It helps create an atmosphere where the people voluntarily contribute to environmental protection out of their love for the living environment," she said.

Yelshibek also mentioned that eco-agricultural farms are a good way to achieve both economic and environmental benefits for rural areas. "The countryside is equally important in the modernization process as cities," she said.

On their journey, the participants experienced the genuine hospitality of the Shandong people.

Walker shared his interactions with a community of Shandong people back in his hometown in west Massachusetts, US, and how their warmth, care and kindness had motivated him to come to China to study.

He believes that culture has a subtle but noticeable effect on the characteristics of the Shandong people, which can be found through their words and actions.

As a member of the Communist Party of the US, Walker was inspired by how the Communist Party of China has combined ancient philosophies with modern practices.

"For example, visits to the Niu Yunzhen Museum (a museum that commemorates Niu Yunzhen, an honest and upright official in China's Qing Dynasty) allowed me to see how the merit of the people-centered philosophy and the performance-oriented democracy has been passed down, which is enlightening for today's governance," he said.

Zheng appreciated the influence of Confucianism on Shandong. She witnessed the Confucian concept of harmonious co-existence in action through interactions with different people and the practicing of traditional activities. In such cases, she stressed the importance of communication.

"Through communication, we can form understandings over judgment, cooperation over division, and embrace diversity while maintaining our differences," she said.

At the end of the discussion, the global Gen Zers shared what aspects of Shandong they would recommend to others.

"I will recommend my friends in Kazakhstan to try the beer and the beaches in Shandong," said Yelshibek, with an element of humor.

"I will recommend my friends to visit the Confucius Temple in Shandong and compare it with other Confucius memorial sites in China," said Yailert.

"I will recommend people to come and experience Shandong in person rather than just learning about it online," said Nakahara.

The best means to learn about a culture is always through experiences. On their trip to Shandong, global Gen Zers experienced a modern province with historical significance, an innovative place with a beautiful environment, and a dynamic region with talented people. The youngsters developed a greater understanding of Chinese culture and deeper reflections on Chinese modernization.

It is hoped that with these experiences, the wisdom of the youth can set sail, and navigate the ship of humankind toward a better future.

The author is a freshman at Peking University in Beijing and was also the host of the roundtable at the dialogue.