The Visiting Program for Young Sinologists 2014 (First Session) ends in Beijing on July 22 with an experience sharing discussion. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The first session ran from July 2 - 22 in Beijing. 18 sinologists from 15 countries, including the U.S, France, India, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Ghana participated in the program. During the program, young sinologists listened to lectures by Li Yining, Ge Jianxiong, Wang Meng, Xu Yuanchong, Guo Jianning and Shan Jixiang about Social and Economic Developments since China’s reform and opening up, China and Its Borders: Past and Present, Chinese Culture, Translation of Chinese Literature, Chinese Culture and Chinese Dream, History of the Forbidden City and so on. Later on, they went to Chinese Academy of Social Science, Chinese National Academy of Arts, the Forbidden City, National Art Museum of China, Peking University and Beijing Language and Culture University and made a two-week research with relevant experts and scholars.

The young sinologists also visited the Forbidden City, Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall and villages in Beijing, from which they gained a better understanding of modern China. The program covered a wide range of topics from economy, philosophy, religion, literature, and fine arts to film. Some focused on the impact and inspiration of the Chinese way on the development of Africa; some centered on China’s smart power and development of information network; others study Chinese life philosophy from the starting point of Zheng Banqiao’s “hard to be confused.”