In the summer of 2026, the Student Experience and Development Section of the Office of Student Affairs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Office of Student Affairs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) (CUHK(SZ)) collaborated once again to offer four summer service-learning tours. A total of 30 CUHK students participated and went to Yushan Island in Fujian, Luoyang in Henan, Zunyi in Guizhou, and Kashgar in Xinjiang.
Yushan Island Rural Revitalisation Summer Service-Learning Trip
Students were divided into six specialised teams, leveraging their diverse academic strengths to support local sustainable development from multiple aspects in the Rural Revitalisation Summer Service-Learning Trip 2026 organised by CUHK. Participants delivered tangible contributions to Yushan Island’s rural revitalisation and sustainable development.
Tour Guide Team
Combining insights from history, geography, and linguistics, this team worked closely on tourism service optimisation. The Survey Team designed detailed questionnaires to understand tourist experiences and collect suggestions; meanwhile, the Optimisation Team created bilingual tourist materials and recorded guide content to enhance the local tourism experience.
Chronicle Editorial Team
Students engaged themselves in local communities to prepare Yushan Island’s distinctive “24 Solar Terms” information, including the famous “Blue Tears” phenomenon, alongside local cultural tourism resources like guesthouses and shops. Their findings were compiled into a travel e-handbook for the local tourist centre so visitors can learn about the unique heritage on the island.
Volunteer Teaching Team
This team visited Yushan Primary School to host a vibrant, half-day “Hong Kong Culture & Experience Day”. Utilising interactive presentations titled “Hong Kong Encyclopaedia,” they introduced local children to Hong Kong’s traditional morning tea culture, showcasing dim sum items like chicken claws, barbecue pork buns, turnip cakes, and steamed dumplings to foster cross-cultural understanding.
Elderly Care & Survey Team
Focusing their efforts on community care, members visited local elders in Dongjiao Village. Through structured interviews and survey outlines, they conducted an in-depth study on the health and living conditions of the village elderly, gathering essential first-hand data to support rural eldercare initiatives.
Mural Painting Team
Leaving a long-lasting, beautiful mark on the community, this team used their creativity to beautify the village. They painted a large thematic mural on a street wall in Zaomiao Village. The artwork beautifully integrates Yushan Island’s natural landscapes, local rural life, and CUHK’s enduring friendship.
Media & Publicity Team
Serving as the “eyes and ears” of the expedition, this team documented the entire journey. Through professional photography, videography, and copywriting, they produced publicity posts and documentary videos capturing every heartfelt moment of community service and cross-strait youth collaboration.
Students also experience different cities in the Chinese Mainland to have service or research in the three service-learning tours organised by CUHK(SZ).
Henan Luoyang Culture & Service-Learning Practice Tour
The Luoyang team adopted a “research and micro-variety” approach, diving into the living heritage of intangible culture. They experimented with glazing Tang Sancai pottery and staged a Hanfu flash mob in the ancient Luoyi City to showcase the charm of Heluo culture. Students also taught local children some simple Russian words, while the children shared their knowledge of calligraphy and tie-dye techniques. Through this joyful exchange, both sides became teachers and learners, discovering the true beauty of two‑way cultural dialogue.
Guizhou Zunyi Primary School Volunteering
The Zunyi teaching team focused on English education at a primary school. Through engaging and interactive lessons built around everyday conversational phrases, they helped the children overcome their fear of speaking English. Although the facilities were modest, the little hands raised high and the sparkle in the children’s eyes reminded every “little teacher” that education is not just about passing on knowledge — it is a conversation between hearts.
Xinjiang Kashgar Service-Learning Research Tour
The Kashgar team ventured into the ancient city to explore traditional crafts. They also visited a cherry orchard to film agricultural promotion videos, contributing in their own small way to rural revitalisation. But the most unforgettable memory for many was their time at Shenta Secondary School. They brought along games like “What’s the Time, Mr. Fox?” from Hong Kong, and the local children threw themselves into the fun with pure delight. When it was time to say goodbye, the hugs they shared made everyone feel the simplest and most genuine kindness between people.
Stella Chen, a student from the Kashgar team, wrote:
The most touching part of this journey was the volunteer teaching experience at Shenta Secondary School. The local students participated actively in our classes and games. Their genuine smiles were extremely warm and inspiring. When we were leaving, many students came to hug me and expressed their reluctance to say goodbye. In that moment, I truly felt the powerful warmth of sincere human connection and understood the purest kindness between people. It also made me firmly believe that volunteer work is extremely valuable and meaningful.
These four tours all bore witness to the passion of young souls reaching out to connect with the world, and proved to be a valuable opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue and the practical application of academic knowledge. May the warmth and courage continue to shine in every participant’s heart.
