Seeking Dreams, Longwen Vein, Sharpening the Edge of Youth | Social Practice in Spring Semester of 2026 Academic Year

 Exploring the local cultural context

It is a walk that allows the spirit to take root

Forge a resilient character

It is a witness to the first test of youthful vigor

April 17, 2026

All students in their first and second year of high school at the International Academy

Entering Fengmenglong Village in Xiangcheng

In the fields and culture of springimmersive experience

Activities such as anti-corruption culture, intangible cultural heritage printing, and traditional Chinese cuisine

Embark on a vivid journey of social practice

 A literary figure

The spiritual source of a local area

Feng Menglong (1574-1646), also known as Yulong and Mo Hanzhai Zhu, was a prominent novelist, playwright, and folk literature compiler in the history of Chinese literature. He was born in Suzhou during the Ming Dynasty and is one of the "Three Fengs of Wu Xia".

He devoted his life to organizing and rewriting folk stories, and his "Three Words" ("Yu Shi Ming Yan", "Ji Shi Tong Yan", "Xing Shi Heng Yan") are regarded as representative works of ancient Chinese vernacular short stories, which have had a profound impact on the development of vernacular literature.

Fengmenglong Village, formerly known as Xinxiang Village, is located in Huangdai Town, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou City. In 2014, to commemorate the 440th anniversary of Feng Menglong's birth, it was renamed as "Feng Menglong Village". Nowadays, this Jiangnan countryside with a dense water network has become a representative area carrying cultural memories and rural revitalization.

Walking in a day

Growing in context and fireworks

Arriving at Fengmenglong Village, students first took a small train around the village. The spring breeze brushes over the newly green fields, identifying flowers, fruits, and vegetables along the way, laughing incessantly, and the rural atmosphere slowly unfolds before my eyes.

 Intangible cultural heritage rubbing

The first stop is the woodblock printing workshop. Spread the rice paper, brush lightly with a brown brush, and the ink fragrance gradually rises. Classmates personally put Feng Menglong's famous lines on the slate, bit by bit, "please" them onto paper - read the text before seeing him.

 Former Residence of Feng Menglong

Entering Feng Menglong's former residence and memorial hall, time seems to slow down. From the old room where the youth studied hard, to the official and upright "Shouning Official Trail", and then to the vivid presentation of the "Three Words" story, students gradually approached the spiritual world of this literati between objects and words.

Initial Experience of Earth Stove Rice

At noon, the students moved to the field training base and started cooking with a clay stove. Starting a fire, washing vegetables, cutting and cooking, and scooping, each group quickly divides and collaborates. The smoke rises from the kitchen, the sound of the spatula is heard, and a handmade meal makes people feel extremely satisfied.

Earth stove, iron pot, raw ingredients - there is no ready-made lunch, everything has to be done by oneself. Under the guidance of the instructor, each group quickly divided their tasks: starting a fire, washing vegetables, cutting and cooking, and scooping, all in an orderly and skillful manner.

In no time, smoke rose from the kitchen, and the sound of spatulas and laughter intertwined. When plates of dishes with different appearances but fragrant aroma are served on the table, everyone sits together and shares this handmade lunch.

The entire process from starting a fire to serving at the table adds a rare sense of satisfaction and achievement to a simple meal.

National Defense Education

In the afternoon, the activity rhythm turned lively. Laser gun shooting and armored vehicle experience are unfolding one after another. From focusing on aiming to boarding the car for observation, defense technology beyond textbooks has become tangible at this moment, igniting students' passion and sense of responsibility.

Although a day is short, the seeds of context have already been sown, and the sharpness of youth has just been sharpened.

From intangible cultural heritage handicrafts to dialogues with sages, from firewood and fireworks to iron armor and passion, students touch the context while walking and experience collaboration and responsibility in practice.

The pursuit of the Dream Dragon's cultural heritage is the understanding and inheritance of culture;

Sharpening the sharpness of youth is a preparation and response to the future.

May this experience become the starting point for continuing to move forward, towards light, and towards the distance.