By Chen Miaolin
At 4 a.m. on June 8, the arrival gate of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport buzzed with anticipation as staff from the Hangzhou International Communication Center (HZICC) scanned the crowd for their guests -- 10 international “Hangzhou Seekers” invited to explore the city, including its unique millennia-old heritage sites.
Among them was Renato de Almeida Freitas Junior, a Brazilian lawyer who had just endured a 30-hour flight. Before his Portuguese greeting was even translated, he was met with warm embraces. “After such a tiring journey, Hangzhou’s hospitality is a relief,” he later shared.
Launched in March, the unique initiative, “Hangzhou, A Window to China’s 5,000-Year Civilization”, offers the selected Seekers a five-day immersion from June 9 to June 13 into the city’s history and culture. The group, comprising scholars, artists, historians, and media professionals from Spain, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Brazil, the U.S., Canada, Thailand, Turkey, and Greece--finally gathered in Hangzhou with a shared goal.
Eagerness for enchanting Hangzhou
Italian documentary director Leonardo Cinieri Lombroso strolled along West Lake at dawn, striking up conversations with locals. “Hangzhou’s duality fascinates me--ancient temples alongside futuristic tech. I’m itching to capture this contrast for a future film,” he said.
Francisca Molinero Gonzalez, a principal of a Spanish international school and the first to arrive, had already wandered the historic streets around the lake. “Places like Liangzhu, West Lake, and the Grand Canal aren’t just landmarks; they serve as living classrooms,” she remarked, eager to foster student exchanges between Spain and China.
At the group’s first gathering, the seekers swapped their early impressions. Thai conductor Dr. Kittiporn Tantrarungroj spoke of his decades-long dream to see West Lake, while American historian David Miano and Egyptian archaeologist Remonda Fayez immediately immersed themselves in discussions about Liangzhu culture. “I’d studied the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu ruins for years, but seeing them in person feels like meeting a legend,” Miano confessed.
German photographer Gunther Riehle, a veteran judge for Zhejiang’s international photography contests, admitted that he had never deeply explored Hangzhou but was ready for it. “They call it ‘paradise on Earth’. My lens craves its misty mornings and wetland birds,” he said. Turkish media producer Tunç Akkoç echoed the sentiment: “My European audience needs to see this city’s soul--beyond the postcards.”
Serendipity at the lakeside banquet
As rain drizzled over West Lake, a Yue Opera excerpt from The Legend of the White Snake set the tone for the welcome dinner. Five local families, selected via public recruitment by Hangzhoufeel, joined the seekers for a traditional Hangzhou feast. On the last day of the 10 international friends’ trip, the families will act as their most exclusive tour guide in 5 groups to show them around the city.
Among them was a Hangzhou girl Si Nuo, currently a 10th grader at a high school in the U.S, who brought her parents to share “hidden gems” with the guests. She bonded instantly with Canadian vlogger Angelina over music, while Mr. Jin’s daughter, “Xiao Zhenzhu” (Little Pearl) charmed Greek bioarchaeologist Christina Papageorgopoulou and Tunç Akkoç with handmade pearl brooches. “She’s been preparing for weeks,” her father beamed.
“Every guest seems serendipitously linked to Hangzhou,” noted Jiang Xianzheng, Head of HZICC and Deputy Chief-editor of the City Express. “Civilizations thrive not in monologue, but through dialogue. Let this journey inspire us all to become cultural ambassadors.”
Seekers’cultural journey
The seekers visited the city’s three intangible cultural heritage sites, each leaving an indelible mark.
Under drizzling skies, they boarded boats for a cruise to the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, the rain lending the scenery an ethereal glow. “It’s like stepping into a painting,” Tunç mused after hearing the story of White Snake.
At the Liangzhu Museum, the seekers marveled at relics of China’s earliest urban civilization. David Miano couldn’t wait to express his enthusiasm for the 5,000-year-long Liangzhu history.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Liangzhu Ancient City Heritage Park, where the ruins of canals and palaces stretched beneath their feet.
They also explored the Grand Canal to experience Chinese culture firsthand.
A seminar themed A Sharing Seminar on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among civilizations Across Millennia took place during their journey in Hangzhou at HZICC, focusing on inheriting, sharing, and revitalizing World Cultural Heritage, with over 100 participants.
Hangzhou & the world
Hangzhoufeel has also invited 10 representatives from Hangzhou with equivalent experiences to the 10 international friends to launch a series of interviews titled “Hangzhou & the World: 10 Questions, 10 Perspectives”.
The captivating content of “Hangzhou & the World: 10 Questions, 10 Perspectives” will be continuously updated on Hangzhou’s official overseas social media account Hangzhoufeel and HZICC’s official WeChat account Hangzhoufeel. Please stay tuned!