On November 10, 2025, the "Perceiving China" practical course of the School of International Education Exchange, Yantai University, entered the School of Music and Dance, organizing international students to carry out traditional Chinese folk music experience activities. Led by Teacher Yao Jinjia from the School of Music and Dance, the Youth National Orchestra of Yantai University delivered an affectionate performance, allowing foreign students to feel the charm of Chinese culture through diverse folk music.

At the event site, the Youth National Orchestra presented classic repertoire performances on Chinese folk instruments such as the yangqin (a hammered dulcimer) and erhu (a two-stringed fiddle). The gentle and melodious strings of the pipa (a four-stringed lute) and the high-pitched and resonant tunes of the suona (a double-reed wind instrument) won warm applause from the international students. Teacher Yao Jinjia also elaborated on the historical origins, structural characteristics and playing techniques of the instruments, guiding the students to observe and experience them up close.

After the performance, the international students took the stage to experience playing various instruments. They actively participated, trying their hands at playing the guzheng (a zither-like instrument), tanggu (a barrel drum), di (a bamboo flute) and sheng (a mouth organ) under the guidance of the orchestra members, personally unlocking the joy of folk music.

Du Yuanjia, an international student from Vietnam, said: "This activity was truly wonderful and interesting. It made us feel the charm of Chinese folk music. I hope there will be more such enjoyable classes in the future." Taking folk music as a medium to build a cultural bridge, this activity is a vivid practice of the university's efforts to deepen cross-cultural exchanges. In the future, our school will continue to enrich the forms of practical courses, enabling international students to understand Chinese culture through immersive experiences.