Wu Yik Tung, HKU Business School

Programme: Greater Bay Area Exploration Summer Camp

Partner Institution: Sun Yat-sen University

Period: June 1 - 3, 2024

The programme included universities from Hong Kong and Macao, and organized a series of visits and interviews for the Greater Bay Area, so that participants could further understand the development trend and opportunities of the Greater Bay Area. At the same time, by visiting the museums and cultural centres, we had a better understanding of Guangdong culture and the history, humanities and culture of Sun Yat-sen University.

Among the activities of the project, I was most impressed by the visit to Guangzhou Cultural Centre. The new Guangzhou Cultural Centre is one of the largest cultural centres in China, with a unique architectural style and Lingnan cultural atmosphere. The building is up to five floors, each floor showcases different aspects of Cantonese culture, such as Cantonese opera, herbal tea, Cantonese music, Guangzhou Tower and other characteristic sculptures. This activity enabled students from Hong Kong and Macao to have a deep understanding of Guangdong culture in various aspects. Occasionally, the similarities in different cultures were surprising. For example, I saw the herbal tea with Cantonese characteristics that I drink daily in the herbal tea house, and I also saw the medicinal oils and medicines in the Chen's Herbal Tea House that are also always kept at my home. We are familiar with the daily objects, but rarely investigate the history behind them, and this visit has made up the missing part of our culture, so that our cultural accomplishments can be further nourished and improved. What is worthy of mention is that by standing on the observation platform on the top floor, we could get a glimpse of the beautiful scenery of the Pearl River area in Guangzhou. From different angles, we could admire the completely different areas of commercial centres and the greenery.

I am very honoured to participate in the event. I would like to thank the China Vision Programme for providing me with the opportunity to exchange and study with students from different universities, and to deepen my understanding of the trends in the Greater Bay Economic Zone and the culture of Guangdong. I am looking forward to participating in more such activities in the future to further enhance my vision and understanding of mainland.