Tianjin is a historic city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, which has been shaped over centuries by its unique port history and diverse local traditions. To explore this vibrant culture, a delegation of SFT students embarked on an immersive seven-day exchange programme to Tianjin on 23 June 2026.
The trip was held under the theme, "Preserve Art • Dialogue • Mutual Appreciation – Excellent Traditional Culture and Arts of China: Tianjin, Hong Kong, and Macao Inheritance and Co-creation Practice." Co-organised by PolyU, Tiangong University, and Macao Polytechnic University, the initiative represents a powerful collaboration to foster cross-regional youth exchange and cultural preservation.
During the intensive seven-day programme, the students participated in a series of hands-on workshops and cultural visits. Highlights included interactive sessions with celebrated masters of iconic crafts, such as Clay Figurine Zhang (泥人張), the national-level Yangliuqing woodblock printing (楊柳青畫莊), and the intricate Tianjin-style filigree inlay (津派花絲鑲嵌). To bridge heritage with modern innovation, the students also attended a seminar on "Intelligent Technology and Chinese Cultural Communication" to explore how digital tools can revitalise the traditional arts. The journey was complemented by local cultural visits, including a scenic cruise along the Haihe River.
This collaborative journey successfully brought the three core dimensions of the project to life:
· Preserve Art (守藝): The students traced the historical roots of Tianjin’s intangible cultural heritage by analysing how these traditional skills can be preserved for future generations.
· Dialogue (對話): By working directly with master artisans, the SFT students explored potential collaborations, which combined traditional craftsmanship with modern design perspectives.
· Mutual Appreciation (互鑑): Using art education as a shared journey, the programme provided the space for academic staff and students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Tianjin to co-create, thus ensuring that heritage education has been deeply embedded in all three communities.
Through this experiential journey, the students not only gained a firsthand appreciation of Tianjin’s urban charm and artistic vitality, but actively contributed to the preservation, inheritance, and modernisation of China’s shared cultural legacy.
