From July 8 to 13, the "Sino-Foreign Xiangjian International Student Social Practice Team" from the School of International Education, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), traveled to Gulou Village (historically known as Guluopu) in Yuanxi Town, Cangxi County, as part of the summer "Three Visits to the Countryside" program. The team immersed themselves in grassroots rural life, engaging in hands-on activities to gain a deeper understanding of China’s revolutionary heritage, folk culture, and the evolving landscape of rural revitalization.

[Image: The team poses for a group photo in front of the former site of the old Gulou Township Government office.]

On July 9, accompanied by village officials, the team first visited the former command post of the Red 31st Army at Shiluoguo (the old Gulou Township Government site) to begin their exploration of red culture. Inside the blue-brick, grey-tile building, a guide vividly recounted the history of the Red Fourth Front Army’s forced crossing of the Jialing River, as well as the literary anecdote of the Southern Song poet Lu You composing his famous poem "Drunk Song at Guluopu." The patriotism of revolutionary forebears and the scholarly spirit of ancient literati deeply impressed the international students. Afterwards, team members experienced the local intangible cultural heritage—the Sichuan opera gongs and drums of northern Sichuan—playing the traditional instruments firsthand and appreciating the unique rhythms of this folk art.

[Image: International students try their hand at playing the Sichuan opera gongs and drums.]

The team also visited the Cangxi pear orchards in Gulou Village to learn about the thousand-year history and distinctive qualities of the Cangxi pear. To further understand the local fruit industry and explore pathways for rural revitalization, they held detailed exchanges with several local fruit merchants and a livestream host who was selling Cangxi Cuiguan pears online. The students then took part in sorting and packaging the pears, and shot promotional photos and videos.

[Image: International students participate in packaging Cuiguan pears.]

Subsequently, the team conducted a comprehensive survey on rural industrial development and grassroots governance. They learned that Cangxi County has built a solid rural industrial foundation centered on two signature fruits—pears and red kiwifruit. Efforts include deep processing to produce fruit drinks and wines, extending the industrial chain, and securing project funding to improve infrastructure such as industrial roads, cold storage, and packaging facilities. At the same time, the county has focused on brand cultivation, with both fruits earning national geographical indication and well-known trademark status. Livestream e-commerce has also been leveraged, inviting agricultural influencers from across the country to promote local products, helping Cangxi’s agricultural goods reach markets beyond Sichuan and even nationwide. In terms of governance, the team learned that Gulou Village adheres to Party leadership and integrates the "Five Governance" approach (political, legal, ethical, autonomous, and smart governance) to achieve effective rural management, leading to a path of prosperous industry and sound governance.

[Image: International students play waist drums with local children.]

During the visit, the international students also interacted with children in the village. The children enthusiastically introduced local specialties and shared daily stories from rural life. The students gave stationery gifts, and both sides exchanged good wishes in different languages, embodying the spirit of "beauty in diversity." As night fell, villagers organized a square dance and warmly invited the students and children to join in. The evening breeze, lights, and cheerful music painted a peaceful and happy picture of rural life.

This social practice marked the first time that SWUFE’s international students had ventured into the Chinese countryside since their arrival in China. Stepping out of their textbooks and into the rural communities, they experienced firsthand the rich culture, governance wisdom, and vitality of China’s villages. The students expressed that their trip to Gulou Village was immensely rewarding—it allowed them to understand China’s red history and traditional intangible heritage, and to witness the tremendous changes brought about by rural revitalization. They considered this an invaluable experience for their studies and life in China. Moving forward, they plan to compile their observations and share stories of Cangxi’s revolutionary past, industrial development, and rural revitalization with overseas audiences, building bridges of cultural exchange through the power of youth.

(Wei Wenjin, Chen Yunqiu)

【原文】中外乡见留学生社会实践队走进苍溪鸳溪古楼村：非遗民俗相融共话乡村振兴

7月8日至13日，西南财经大学国际教育学院暑期“三下乡”活动，“中外乡见留学生社会实践队”一行走进苍溪县鸳溪镇古楼村（古称鼓楼铺），开展沉浸式社会实践活动。实践队深入乡村基层、身体力行实践，在乡土间读懂中国红色文脉、民俗文化与乡村振兴发展图景。

7月9日，实践队在村“两委”工作人员陪同下首先来到石锣锅红三十一军渡江指挥所旧址（原古楼乡人民政府旧址），开启红色文化研学。青砖灰瓦的旧址内，讲解员生动还原了红四方面军强渡嘉陵江的战斗历史和南宋诗人陆游创作《鼓楼铺醉歌》的文史典故，革命先辈家国情怀与千年文人风骨交相辉映，让留学生深受触动。随后，实践队员现场体验苍溪非遗川北川剧锣鼓，亲手感受传统民乐独特韵律，近距离领略川北非遗文化魅力。

实践队还前往了古楼村的苍溪梨种植园，详细了解了苍溪梨的千年种植历史与独特品质。为进一步了解苍溪水果产业、深入调研乡村振兴实现路径，实践队还与几家苍溪本地水果商家以及一位正在通过直播销售苍溪翠冠梨的主播进行了细致的沟通交流。随后，留学生们还体验了翠冠梨分拣打包流程，拍摄了宣传照片和视频。

随后，实践队围绕乡村产业发展、基层治理开展全方位调研。调研中队员们了解到，苍溪县以梨、红心猕猴桃两大特色果品为核心，全方位夯实乡村产业根基：一方面推进果品深加工，研发果饮、果酒延伸产业链，同步争取项目资金完善产业道路、冷链冻库、包装加工等配套设施；另一方面抓实品牌培育，两大果品获评国家地理标志、中国驰名商标，同时借力直播电商，邀约各地“三农”主播走进苍溪拓销路，让本土农产品走出四川、辐射全国。在基层治理方面，实践队了解到古楼村坚持以党建为统领、“五治”融合赋能基层治理，走出了产业兴旺、治理有效的乡村发展路子。

活动期间，留学生还与村内孩童进行了互动交流，孩子们热情介绍家乡特色物产，分享乡村日常趣事；留学生送上文具礼品，互相用不同语种互送美好祝福，生动诠释“美美与共”的交流内涵。夜幕降临，村民自发组织广场舞，热情邀请留学生与孩子们一同载歌载舞，晚风、灯火、欢歌勾勒出乡村祥和安宁的幸福画卷。

据了解，本次社会实践是西南财经大学留学生来华后首次深入中国乡村一线开展的活动，他们走出书本、扎根乡土，实地触摸中国乡村厚重文化、基层治理智慧与发展活力。实践队的留学生纷纷表示，古楼村之行收获满满，既让他们读懂了中国红色历史与传统非遗，也真切看见了乡村振兴带来的巨大变迁，这将成为他们今后在中国学习、生活的珍贵经历和财富。下一步，他们将把本次实践见闻整理记录，向海外讲好苍溪红色故事、产业发展、乡村振兴故事，以青年力量搭建中外文化交流桥梁。

（魏文进 陈韵秋）