On November 19, PhD students from the BFSU “New Sinology Program” undertook a study tour in Tongzho, Beijing. The tour, themed “Beijing’s Cultural Charm Through Past and Present · A Glimpse of the Future in the Sub-Center,” included visits to the Beijing Library, Beijing Performing Arts Center, and the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing. This activity was not only continued the study tour at the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Museum in Hangzhou in April, but also, adopting the perspective of “both ends of the canal,” served as a practical initiative to respond to President Xi Jinping’s encouraging message urging young Sinologists to “present a real, multidimensional, and comprehensive China.”

Using the Grand Canal as a cultural medium, the study tour linked China’s historical heritage with its contemporary development. In Tongzhou, the PhD students immersed themselves in understanding the transformation of Beijing from an ancient capital to a modern sub-center. They gained deep insight into the vibrant practice of cultural heritage preservation, upgrades in public cultural services, and the development of new urban districts. They not only experienced the millennium-long cultural legacy, but also witnessed the vitality of modern metropolitan development.

The study tour centered on the core idea that “Sinology originates from China and belongs to the world,” integrating canal culture research with the mission of fostering cross-civilizational exchange. By exploring cultural scenes where tradition and modernity converge, the students further deepened their understanding of the continuity and innovation of Chinese culture. The experience also strengthened their commitment to becoming “messengers of cultural communication between China and the world,” providing vivid material for telling China’s story well and contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind.