Ningbo treat connects intl students to local culture

A traditional delicacy from Ningbo, Zhejiang province, stirred memories of home for a group of international students during a hands-on cultural experience.

On July 9, students from the Business School of Ningbo University gathered at the Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Hall in Jinping subdistrict of the city's Fenghua district to try their hands at making huizhituan, a chewy rice-based sweet that's both a local favorite and a summer classic.

Guiding them was Wang Chunwei, a longtime artisan known for her mastery of this time-honored treat.

"I started learning from my grandmother when I was very young," said Wang. "Ten years ago, our village began offering traditional food experiences, and that's how I got involved. Everything is made by hand — no shortcuts, no additives."

The students participated in every step of the intricate process, from soaking rice and grinding it to shaping and steaming the final product over a wood fire. The finished products — translucent, golden-brown pastries with a satisfyingly chewy texture — were served once cooled.

"This grey little sweet tastes like something my mom would make. Amazing!" said William Leslie from Indonesia, who later asked to buy extra to share with friends.

The event was part of the university's "walking cultural classroom" initiative, which aims to promote cross-cultural understanding through direct experience with traditional Chinese crafts.

Wang Chunwei (second from right) and international students display the traditional huizhituan they crafted during a cultural workshop. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]