Standing in front of a big stone inscribed "The first ray of sunshine in Tianjin" in Chinese calligraphy, Contreras Espinoza Jonathan Willianms from Spain took a photo. Right behind the stone is the calm Bohai Sea, its waves gently lapping against the shore. A group of seabirds hovered above the sea. Gazing into the distance, more than 10 windmills stand one after another, gently rotating.

Jonathan takes a photo in front of the stone inscribed "The first ray of sunshine in Tianjin".

“This is Dashentang, the best-preserved coastal natural fishing village in Tianjin. Located in the easternmost coast of Tianjin, it is the place where the first glimmer of dawn shines in Tianjin”, Li Zisheng, a volunteer guide told Jonathan and his fellow students.

Altogether 25 international students from 13 countries attended a culture tour organized by Tianjin University and Zhaishang administrative Street Office at Binhai New Area on April 13th. They visited Tianjin Dashengang port and learned about how Dashentang village, with a history of 500 years, originated from salt and fishing industry, developed with times and thrived in the new era with marine ecological protection and migratory bird protection.

Walking on the dock, the visitors greeted the returning fishing boats loaded with crabs, skin shrimps and barracuda. “We see a glimpse of people’s busy routine life here. They protect the sea and the sea rewards them with abundant products. Maybe that’s so-called harmonious co-existence between man and nature I heard so many times in China,” said Jonathan who hails from Spain and is currently studying Chinese international education at Tianjin University.

International students from Tianjin University visit Zhaishang Street in Binhai New Area.

He arrived in China only a month ago, but he has developed a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture and felt amazed at China’s development achievements. “For the first time, my classmates and I have had such a keen experience of Bohai Bay’s grandeur and vastness. We also enjoyed the local traditional folk art Fei Cha quite a lot”. Jonathan talked about the Fei Cha performance villagers put on for the international students.

Gurdov Guvanch from Turkmenistan was deeply impressed by the concept of circular economy and green development technology adopted by the Tianjin SDIC Jinneng Electric Power CO., LTD. The company is among the first batch of pilot units for both China’s circular economy and seawater desalination industry. In the company’s exhibition hall, Gurdov learned that the company’s seawater desalination project is the first of its kind in China to realize water supply to city pipeline network. “It is called circular economy because it has achieved a perfect closed-loop industry chain. Power generation promotes seawater desalination. Desalination water serves people's livelihoods while the concentrated salt water generated in the process is used for salt production at the Hangu Salt Field, which helps the Salt Field double its raw salt production. It is said 22 square kilometers of salt field land is saved. It’s amazing.”

Students visit the exhibition hall of the Tianjin SDIC Jinneng Electric Power CO., LTD and learn about the company’s development concepts.

For Nabil Mohammad Jawid, an Afghan student, he’s most interested in the company’s power generation technology. “Our country is urgent need of advanced power generation technology. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to get to know the company here. Hopefully, I will be a communication bridge to promote industrial cooperation between enterprises of the two countries and jointly build a better future.”

During the tour, students were invited to plant some trees at the Zhaishang Street. Writing down her name on a card and hanging it on the tree she planted herself, Ben Sofia from Ukraine made up her mind to seek future development in China after graduation. “Coming to China has always been my dream. My grandfather worked in China for three years, and my mother also loves Chinese culture very much. They all told me that China is developing very fast, so I have always dreamed of coming to China to see it myself. I hope to stay and work here in the future.”

By Eva Yin, photo provided by Wang Hai & Yuan Chao