From May 25 to 26, the 2026 "Experience China" social practice and cultural event, organized by the China Scholarship Council and hosted by Sichuan Agricultural University, was successfully held. Under the theme "Into the Agri-Tech Hub: Sensing China's Wisdom" , the two-day event brought together 12 Chinese and international students from seven colleges, including the College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Resources, and College of Food Science.
During the event, students visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding's Dujiangyan Wild Release and Research Center, the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, and the Chengdu Agricultural Science and Technology Center. From the millennia-old wisdom of water management to modern agricultural technologies, participants gained deep insights into the achievements and progress of China's agricultural modernization.
At Dujiangyan, students explored key structures such as Yuzui (Fish Mouth) Dividing Dike, Feisha Yan (Flying Sand Weir), and Baoping Kou (Bottle-Neck Channel). They learned about the philosophy of "following nature's way and adapting to circumstances" and its profound role in nurturing the agricultural civilization of the "Land of Abundance." Guided by instructors from the university's agricultural disciplines, students also learned about the lasting impact of the Dujiangyan irrigation system on the agricultural diversity and farming culture of the Chengdu Plain. Later, at the panda base, international students were introduced to China's expertise in giant panda breeding, habitat conservation, and sustainable agricultural development in surrounding communities. Samuel, a doctoral student from Ghana shared that, "As I left Dujiangyan, I felt a wonderful connection between the two places. The Panda Conservation Center works to protect nature from harm, while the irrigation system shows that humans can thrive without destroying nature."
On the second day, students toured the intelligent environmental control lab, plant growth modeling research center, and China's domestically developed unmanned vertical plant factory at the Chengdu Agricultural Science and Technology Center. Through a special session on "Smart Agriculture and Food Security," students deepened their understanding of China's agricultural technology innovations and contributions to global food security. Ghazala, a doctoral student from Pakistan remarked that, "The Chengdu Agricultural Science and Technology Center showed us biotech breeding and pesticide-free farming models. This is the future—healthy soil, clean water, and producing more food without harming nature."
This event effectively integrated agricultural education with China's national context and cultural experiences, representing a vivid practice of the university's effort to promote "agriculturally distinctive international communication." Moving forward, the university will continue to leverage its agricultural strengths to help international students grow as bridges of friendship who understand more about China, and to further disseminate China's agricultural culture and modern agri-tech.
It is noted that the "Experience China" event is a flagship social practice and cultural experience series organized by the China Scholarship Council for Chinese government scholarship students. It aims to bring international students into institutions, communities, enterprises, and villages, offering them a deeper understanding of the country's economic development, and technological advances.
