STORY: American student explores charm of Chinese culture in E China
SHOOTING TIME: July 8, 2024
DATELINE: July 30, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:20
LOCATION: NANJING, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Nanjing
2. SOUNDBITE 1-5 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
3. various of Nanjing
4. SOUNDBITE 7 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
5. various of Nanjing
6. SOUNDBITE 8-9 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.

STORYLINE:

Recently, more than 30 young people from American universities and enterprises visited Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu.

Harriet Parkinson, a student from Brigham Young University, is among them.

She engaged in various activities to experience traditional Chinese culture.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"My name is Harriet Parkinson. I'm currently a senior at Brigham Young University which is in the U.S. in the state of Utah. I'm studying urban planning and minoring in Chinese and Mandarin."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"This is my first time to China."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"I've loved seeing the old architecture incorporated with a lot more modern needs as well. It always makes me sad when old buildings are destroyed or replaced with new architecture, but I love being in Nanjing and seeing that history preserved and also learning that people who have lived there for a long time are still able to live there. So I've been really impressed by that."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"People here are really kind and willing to share their culture with me, which makes me very happy."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"Something that just really interests me in urban planning is how to create those areas that cross time boundaries like old architecture."

During the visit, Harriet Parkinson was attracted by the exquisite Qinhuai lantern, a Chinese national intangible cultural heritage.

SOUNDBITE 7 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"I thought it was really cool to hear the gentleman who taught us how to make the lanterns, hear him talk about how he has traveled to over 50 countries to share this with people around the world."

Harriet Parkinson began learning Chinese when she was five years old.

She knew about Chinese martial arts, calligraphy, and dance during the study.

Visiting China had really been a dream of her for a long time.

SOUNDBITE 8 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"I've always had a little fascination for Chinese culture. It's been really cool to be here and see the things that I've learned so much about. (It was) like a dream come true."

SOUNDBITE 9 (English): HARRIET PARKINSON, Student from Brigham Young University, U.S.
"It's very beautiful. I look forward to exploring it more.
I think this whole festival has been such a great opportunity to really experience more Chinese culture and to gain greater appreciation. It's really beautiful to see that exchange of cultures and how that can really cross borders."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nanjing, China.
(XHTV)