UCDCII Students' Visit China Programme (2025) Successfully Launched in Wuhan China

In early October, the “Chinese Bridge · Charm of Characters” program for Irish students was launched at Wuhan University of Science and Technology. Teenagers from the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland traveled across continents to participate in an immersive Chinese cultural experience. The program, centered on traditional Chinese culture, combines language courses and cultural demonstrations, allowing students to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture through calligraphy and martial arts practice.
The program invited Zhang Shiyong, the 15th-generation inheritor of the Wudang Sanfeng School, to teach martial arts. The course was divided into three sections—“punching,” “blocking,” and “footwork”—delivered in a progressive manner. Students followed the instructor’s movements in the training field, experiencing the spirit and cultural essence of martial arts through a combination of motion and stillness.

The activity integrates martial arts experience, language learning, and cultural excursions, breaking geographical barriers and allowing European students to interactively perceive the depth and vitality of Chinese culture. Zhang Shiyong noted that Chinese martial arts are an important part of traditional culture and a national treasure, and he hopes more foreign friends can understand its cultural significance.

In addition, Chinese character classes were conducted simultaneously. Teachers guided students according to their Chinese proficiency, starting from basic strokes, demonstrating and supervising practice, and explaining the cultural stories behind the characters. This approach deepens students’ understanding of Chinese culture. Liu Wenbo, Dean of the School of Marxism at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, emphasized that, unlike online courses, the offline experience allows students to observe, practice, and engage directly with Chinese culture.

Through the “Chinese Bridge” platform, Wuhan University of Science and Technology actively promotes international cultural exchange.

In the future, the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, in collaboration with Chinese universities, will continue to carry out more programs for cross-cultural understanding, building bridges of friendship and contributing to mutual appreciation of civilizations.