Students gained insights into Yunnan province’s history, culture and economic development in a seven-day study tour last month, interacting with local universities and businesses.

A group of 18 students embarked on the tour “In Dialogue with China Study Trip – Exploring Yunnan 2025” from 12 to 18 May, covering Kunming and Dali. Themed “Yunnan and Hong Kong: Youth Building Dreams”, the trip was co-organised by the Student Experience and Development Section of the Office of Student Affairs and the University General Education.

During the tour, students visited Dali Old Town, Erhai Lake, Yunnan Baiyao Group, and the Yunnan Nationalities Museum. They also learned about the crafts of tie-dying and jiama, a kind of religious woodcut print, both listed as intangible cultural heritage of the province. Additionally, they visited Yunnan University, Yunnan Minzu University, and the Coffee Academy at Dali Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture and Forestry, engaging in conversations with local university students.

Caroline Cheng, a first-year student majoring in Computer Science and Engineering, said: “After gaining a deeper understanding of intangible cultural heritage and the development of local industry, I could feel a down-to-earth wisdom among the people… Whether it is roses, coffee or Chinese medicine, the locals pursue not only modernisation, but a way of life grounded in their cultural heritage and local conditions.”

Gary Hong, a first-year Business Administration student, remarked that “the most valuable takeaway was the friendships formed with my fellow participants, our sincere interactions with the teachers and students in Yunnan, and the warm greetings from the locals. All of this made the trip more than just a simple journey – it became a meaningful cultural dialogue.”