On November 11, 2025, guided by the “Business Rhyme along the Silk Road” international education brand, the College of International Education meticulously organized an immersive Traditional Chinese wellness culture experience activity. The lingering fragrance of sachets conveyed the enduring commercial charm of the millennia-old Silk Road, while Tai Chi and Baduanjin embodied Eastern wisdom for self-cultivation. At the intersection of history and the present, the activity paved a practical path for international students to perceive the depth of Chinese civilization.
Sachets Carry the Way, Silk Road Essence Captivates the Heart
The sachet culture appreciation session traced the thread of “Silk Road spices”, vividly illustrating how foreign spices, once carried by camel caravans during the Han and Tang dynasties, blended and coexisted with traditional Chinese “Rongxiu” (scent bags) and “Xiangdai” (fragrance pouches), ultimately becoming cultural vessels. The international students personally handled brocade pouches embroidered with plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums, and studied the formula wisdom behind formulas using mugwort for repelling mosquitoes, mint for refreshing the mind, and lavender for promoting sleep. Russian student Eger Baiandin, smelling a mugwort sachet, remarked, “This scent is very special; it smells very soothing. It turns out such a small sachet holds so many functions”. The history of mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations behind the spices transformed the petite sachet into a silent messenger of the Silk Road’s commercial legacy.
(International students experiencing the making of traditional Chinese sachets)
Tai Chi Clarifies the Mind, Business Cultivation Inspires New Understanding
On the lawn of the sports field, the movements of Tai Chi and Baduanjin unfolded smoothly and gracefully. The instructor translated the martial arts philosophies of “overcoming hardness with softness” and “maintaining composure and calm” into wisdom for stress management in modern business scenarios. Mongolian student Gantushig Yesuigen shared after the session, “I usually face significant academic pressure. Practicing Tai Chi made me feel relaxed both physically and mentally. This slow-paced form of exercise is quite unique.” Thus, traditional wellness practices were elevated into a form of spiritual cultivation for cross-cultural business practitioners.
(International students practicing Tai Chi and Baduanjin)
New Voices on the Silk Road, Culture Builds Bridges for Business
As one of the core practical activities under the “Business Rhyme along the Silk Road” brand development, this event went beyond skill instruction, focusing on cultivating the cross-cultural appreciation literacy of the international students. The Silk Road heritage embedded within the sachets deepened their understanding of the inclusive nature of Chinese commercial civilization, while the serene discipline of Tai Chi forged the mental foundation required for global business challenges. This activity represents not only a key move in capacity building under the “Study in Shanghai——Business Rhyme along the Silk Road” brand but also using cultural affinity as a bond, allows understanding and friendship towards China to grow naturally, nurtured by millennia-old wellness wisdom. As the international students wear the mugwort sachets close to their hearts and incorporate the poise of Tai Chi into their lives, they become new envoys fostering the integration of humanities and commerce along the “Belt and Road”.
(Group photo of international students participating in this activity)
Written by: Zhang Ruyi
Photographed by: Zhang Ruyi
Reviewed by: Chen Wei
