Global students discover Guangxi's culture and community spirit

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Samuel James Stephen Meston, a 23-year-old UK student at Peking University, never expected that a trip to a border city in Southwest China would reshape his understanding of the country.

"Although I studied at the University of Cambridge, growing up in a small town in the UK didn't prepare me for the depth of China's culture," Meston said. "It wasn't until I lived in a metropolis like Beijing and visited other regions that I truly grasped the richness of its culture and the diversity of its values."

From Nov 12 to 15, Meston took part in the 2025 Overseas Generation Z Guangxi Cultural Experience Tour, joining over 20 participants, including foreign media representatives and young delegates from Italy, Argentina, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and other countries.

During the three-day tour, the group explored Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, a place where revolutionary history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage coexist in harmony.

One of the most moving stops was Baini village, where poverty-relief martyr Huang Wenxiu once worked. By visiting the memorial dedicated to her and speaking with local villagers, participants gained a vivid sense of her unwavering commitment to community service.

Huang, born in Baini in 1989, earned a master's degree from Beijing Normal University in 2016. She turned down opportunities in major cities to return home and lead poverty alleviation efforts.

As the first secretary of the village's Party committee, she promoted local agriculture and e-commerce, improved infrastructure, and significantly lowered the poverty rate — from 22.88 percent to 2.71 percent.

In 2019, she died at age 30 in a flash flood while rushing to protect the village.

Today, much of the progress she set in motion continues to take shape. According to Chen Hongren, the village's current first secretary, the 22-kilometer road built to support local industries has now fully opened, road access and street lighting have been completed, and Wenxiu Kindergarten has also been built.

"Huang Wenxiu's wishes have been realized one by one," Chen said.

He added that the village's collective income reached 310,000 yuan ($43798.89) in 2024, and that 12 migrant workers — seeing Huang as a role model — have returned to start their own businesses, an encouraging trend that is drawing more young local talent back home.

In the village, Meston saw many well-built public facilities that, he said, embody the hard work of people like Huang, who lived among residents, served them wholeheartedly, and worked to improve their lives. "I think that reflects the overall principle of common prosperity — the idea that the country's development should benefit everyone," he said.

Win Mar Aung, a student from Myanmar, said she felt a personal connection to Huang's story. Also born in a mountain village, she especially admires Huang's strong sense of duty to her community.

"It's remarkable that she had already made it out of the mountainous regions yet chose to return without hesitation to help develop her hometown," she said.

The Baise Uprising Memorial Hall also made a strong impression on the young visitors, transporting them back to the pivotal event of 1929 and offering a tangible connection to Guangxi's revolutionary history.

Alicja Amrit Singh, a student from Italy, reflected on the significance of the site. "It's incredible to see how many young revolutionaries worked together to accomplish an event that influenced history," she said.

She added that visiting the memorial helped her understand not just the facts, but also the values of solidarity and commitment — principles that continue to inspire new generations.

During the trip, participants also attended the Sino-Foreign Youth Marxist Dialogue, held at Guangxi University in Nanning.

The event aimed to build common ground through the exchange of ideas, forge friendships through mutual cultural learning, and promote deeper cross-civilizational understanding.

For Leonel Octavio Predut, a youth representative from Argentina, China's technological landscape stood out most during his visit.

"One thing I didn't expect was how technology can make your life better," he said at the dialogue. "For example, when you go out shopping, all you really need is your phone — many people hardly use cash anymore. This level of digitalization isn't common outside China. The country's technological development is truly impressive."

Looking ahead, Win hopes to study in China one day and, after completing her education, return to Myanmar to contribute to its development.

"I'd love to become a bridge promoting trade between China and Myanmar," she said.

Contact the writers at zhangli@chinadaily.com.cn

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