Hong Kong Youth Explore Qiaoxiang Culture and Experience Sustainable Farming "Jiangmen Cultural History and Yunfu Eco-Farming Study Tour" Successfully Concludes

The "Jiangmen Cultural History and Yunfu Eco-Farming Study Tour," organized by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals' "Strive and Rise" Alumni club and co-organized by the Surein Foundation, was successfully held from August 4 to 6. Twenty teachers and students immersed themselves in Jiangmen City and Xinxing County, Yunfu City, for a three-day, two-night journey of cultural exploration and eco-farming experiences. While Hong Kong was enduring over ten hours of extreme weather and black rainstorms, the weather in Jiangmen and Xinxing County remained surprisingly pleasant, allowing the pre-planned environmental education activities to proceed smoothly.

Cultural Exploration: Tracing the History of Jiangmen's Qiaoxiang

The first day focused on Jiangmen City. Participants visited "Thirty-Three Xu Street", Qimingli, and the Jiangmen Overseas Chinese Museum. They observed century-old architecture and precious "Qiaopi" (overseas Chinese letters) artifacts in the museum, learning about the struggles and patriotic sentiments of Wuyi’s overseas Chinese. Many Hong Kongers and Southeast Asian Chinese share deep ancestral ties with Jiangmen in the Greater Bay Area!

Farming Practice: Learning Sustainable Development Concepts

On the second day, the Surein Foundation utilized its Surein Farm, a thoughtfully designed eco-education platform, to arrange a series of hands-on activities. The first activity was planting a Lagerstroemia indica (crape myrtle) tree, symbolizing the long-term commitment to nurturing both nature and people. In the Chinese Herb Research Garden, instructors introduced nearly 100 types of medicinal herbs and processed dried herbs through the cultural topic of Cantonese herbal tea. Participants then sampled pre-prepared herbal teas (such as Five-Flower Tea and Chrysanthemum Tea), experiencing their health benefits, including detoxification and liver-clearing effects.

On the farm’s tea plantation, students learned to hand-pick Tieguanyin tea leaves, transplanted from Anxi, Fujian. In the afternoon, they witnessed skilled tea masters transform the leaves into green tea, which they later tasted together at an evening gathering. The tea fields and vegetable plots are fertilized using compost from the farm’s horse stables, goat pens, and poultry yards, as well as fermented fruit and vegetable enzymes. The farm also organized a mountain hike, allowing students to admire Lidong Town’s scenic views while observing the diverse economic forest of valuable trees.

Agriculture is the foundation of rural economies. Students engaged in tilling soil, planting sweet potatoes, transplanting rice seedlings, feeding livestock (pigs, horses, goats, and poultry), picking seasonal fruits (guava, longan, pineapple), and harvesting vegetables (luffa, pumpkin, winter melon). They also visited Zhuang Guping Village to learn about rural ancestral hall culture and the impact of China’s rural revitalization policies.

Each evening, the farm’s multipurpose hall buzzed with activity. After sharing sessions and enjoying soothing sweet soups, the students showcased their singing talents!

Corporate Visit: Witnessing Industrial Achievements

The three-day itinerary was packed. On the final half-day, participants visited Oudelu Kitchenware Museum in Yunfu City, learning about Xinxing County’s enterprises. Guided by interpreters, they discovered how the county’s stainless steel kitchenware industry grew from scratch over 40 years, integrating technological advancements to produce high-quality, high-value products—a real-world example of sustainable development.

On the return trip, feedback surveys showed that the tour provided firsthand experience of the Greater Bay Area’s cultural heritage and eco-friendly practices, deepening their understanding of sustainability. The event not only fostered cross-regional exchange but also inspired youth to reflect on the importance of environmental conservation and cultural preservation. (End)