A group of 79 German university students and their teachers from the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp visited the Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences on August 25, 2025. (Credit: IHB)

A group of 79 German university students and their teachers from the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp visited the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on August 25, 2025. The visit marked a distinctive study tour blending scientific exploration with cultural exchange for the participants, who came from the Confucius Institutes in Munich, Düsseldorf, and Nuremberg-Erlangen. 

The camp's first stop was the Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences. The students explored exhibits ranging from the "living fossil" coelacanth to specimens of fish species endemic to the Yangtze River Basin. They moved through displays dedicated to rare and endangered aquatic species and a special exhibition on the decade-long fishing ban in the Yangtze. The extensive collection and vivid explanations not only provided the participants with a direct appreciation of the unique charm of China's aquatic biodiversity but also, through concrete case studies and detailed data, offered profound insights into China's firm resolve in advancing the conservation of the Yangtze River. They gained a deeper understanding of the significant impact of the ten-year fishing ban strategy on safeguarding river ecosystems and preserving ecological civilization.

The second part of the tour brought the group to the Baiji Dolphinarium at IHB's Guanqiao campus. This facility serves not only as the "research frontline" for the conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise but also as a vital window showcasing China's ecological protection achievements to the world. At the porpoise breeding pool, the students observed the daily activities of the finless porpoises up close through viewing windows. The plump porpoises, sometimes darting agilely through the water and sometimes leaping to the surface to create small splashes, elicited waves of amazement and laughter with their endearing antics.

As an international Chinese language education brand project for foreign university students, the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp aims to promote international understanding and cross-cultural communication. Through activities including language instruction, cultural immersion, and field visits, the program helps participants gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese culture and experience contemporary China.

A group of 79 German university students and their teachers from the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp visited the Baiji Dolphinarium on August 25, 2025. (Credit: IHB)

A group of 79 German university students and their teachers from the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp visited the Baiji Dolphinarium on August 25, 2025. (Credit: IHB)