Decade of discovery

The Guilin team is savoring local Guangxi food, which includes a cake resembling the iconic Elephant Trunk Hill. [Photo provided to China Daily]

In this age of social media, even culinary creations have become sensations. Many people now share pictures of these edible souvenirs. What used to be limited to mere sightseeing and photo-taking has evolved into an immersive experience, offering travelers a unique way to enjoy their journeys while promoting these destinations effectively.

The Guilin team also ventured to Yongfu county, a place steeped in tradition, and home to caidiao, a traditional tune and intangible cultural heritage of Guangxi.

Arce found this part of her field trip most captivating. "This is my first time trying on Chinese opera's costumes. This type of immersive experience really helps me learn more about the local culture and arts," she said.

Caidiao originated from rural songs and dances, celebrating joys, love stories, and daily lives of the people. To preserve and promote this traditional art form, the villagers have embarked on live-streaming shows, a creative way to reach modern audiences.

"It was very interesting to be a part of their live-streaming," Arce said. "I think it's really effective to promote and preserve intangible cultural heritage on such platforms."

For the Guangzhou team, live-streaming was also a part of their field trip. Nan May Thet Khaing from Myanmar and her companions visited Guangzhou University, sharing their experience in real-time. Nan, now studying at China Three Gorges University in Central China's Hubei province, highlighted the educational value of live-streaming. "It's a powerful learning tool. People can visit Guangzhou virtually through our lens and we can also interact with them online which, in turn, strengthens our knowledge and understanding of the city."