Whetstone Study Programmes | Yunnan Xishuangbanna: Ethnic Minority Ecological Culture and Sustainable Development
From July 25 to July 31, 2024, the Whetstone Study Programmes study group from Diligentia College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) traveled to the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan to conduct a study tour. The tour focused on various research projects, including the protection of Dai cultural heritage in Jinghong City, the development of eco-tourism in the Man Kong Dai village, the conservation of the tropical rainforest in the Elephant Rainforest, the sustainable development of ancient tea trees among the Blang people, and the inheritance of intangible tea-making craftsmanship at the Da Yi Tea Factory. Additionally, the study group members engaged in in-depth discussions with the Man Kong Dai village committee party committee and the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Protection Foundation on issues such as youth development and Bay Area exchanges, demonstrating the spirit of practical action and thoughtful reflection characteristic of Diligentia College students.
Under the guidance of Wang Huaibing, the Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Menghan Town, the students not only had the opportunity to closely observe the traditional Dai architecture in the Man Kong Dai village, understand the historical evolution and culture of the Dai village, and experience the making of intangible cultural heritage items such as Dai paper and Dai pottery, but they also learned the Dai language and Dai dance, immersing themselves in the charm of Dai culture. With the detailed introduction by the local villager guide, Yu Jianxiang, the students gained a deeper understanding of Dai culture and the development of the rural collective economy. The open and inclusive working style of the Menghan Town Party Committee leadership team left a profound impression on the students. The active exchange and cooperation between the two sides are beneficial for enhancing the social responsibility of the youth and encouraging them to commit themselves to the wave of social development.
Students from Diligentia College of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) were invited to gather with students from Yunnan Agricultural University in the picturesque Menghan Town, at the Man Kong Dai village. Through on-site inspections and exchanges, the students gained a deeper understanding of the rich cultural heritage of ethnic minorities. They also witnessed the local government's efforts in integrating cultural tourism and rural revitalization, focusing on the protection of distinctive features, the inheritance of ethnic culture, and vigorously promoting the ecological development of tourism in ethnic villages, thereby creating a favorable situation for the integration of cultural and tourism economies.
