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Modern Agriculture VS Traditional Farming Culture

——SJTU Chongming Island Exploration Tour

China’s agriculture has experienced tremendous transformation from traditional agriculture to modern agriculture and then to ecological agriculture. Today, ecological agriculture holds the key to realizing the Chinese dream.

The international students who have traveled thousands of miles from all over the world to China are experiencing the tremendous political and economic changes in China as the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up. Yet few have deep understanding towards the rural construction in the country. As a Chinese saying goes “Food is the most important thing for the people”, China has long attached great importance to its agricultural development. In the process of modernization construction, China aims to build rural areas with thriving businesses, pleasant living environments, social etiquette and civility, effective management, and prosperity. To help our international students learn more about the past and the future of China’s agriculture and farmers, SJTU International Student Center organized a special activity “Chongming Island Exploration Tour” for international students.

The tour started from the one and only lavender plantation in Shanghai. As one of the most beautiful gardens in China, the plantation covers an area of 120000 square meters and is known for having 36500 Provence lavenders. Some French students described it as “Provence in China” after the tour.

The second stop of the trip is Beishuang Village which was evaluated as a model village of ecological civilization in 2018. Beishuang Village impressed our international students with its perfect ecosystem and well-protected natural environment. Some of the students said that it was his/her first time to experience the lifestyle of villagers living in such a socialist countryside with Chinese characteristics.

Watching a video clip about Beishuang Village

Taking photos of flowers in full bloom 

In the afternoon, international students rolled up their sleeves and got down to farming activities at Vocation Farm on Chongming Island. No sooner had they started making dumplings and toasting tomatoes in a country kitchen on their own than they found delight in doing traditional farming activities.

The next day, SJTUers continued their visit to the Chongming Wanhe Agricultural Park. The park aims to develop organic agriculture and covers an area of 2,000 acres. Here, international students saw the collision of traditional and advanced agricultural technologies. They were amazed by the application of AI robots and soil-less cultivation technology. During the visit, many students who major in agriculture, biology, engineering and machinery asked questions to the park workers. Students were surprised by the achievements China has made in agricultural modernization.

Chinese sturgeon, a descendant of an ancient species of stickleback fish known as the “Panda in the Water” or the “Fish of China”, is listed in the National List of Protected Animals. On the last leg of the tour, international students came to the Chinese sturgeon nature reserve near the estuary of the Yangtze River to appreciate the “Panda in the Water” and learn about their habitats including spawning and migration.

Watching Chinese sturgeon in the aquariumA free discussion the Chinese sturgeon expert

Leaving notes after the tour

      The two-day exploitation tour offered international students a great opportunity to experience Chinese-style country life on Chongming Island. After this trip, they all had a better understanding of ecological agriculture that China has advocated. As one of the students summarized, the island is the epitome of China’s rapid growth. It is the product of China’s 13th Five-year Plan. It is a symbol of ecological civilization. It is also a magical island where tradition and modernity co-exist.

 

 

 

 

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