During a one-day cultural tour of Beijing, Russian student Slava Klishauskaite explored local traditions, cuisine and history - an experience that deepened her understanding of Chinese culture and strengthened her hopes for closer China-Russia relations.
Klishauskaite, who studies at the prestigious Peking University, chose three iconic experiences to connect with the city's spirit: tasting authentic Peking Duck, walking through historic hutongs, and admiring spring blossoms.
Her first stop was Haidian Park, a lesser-known destination nestled inside Beijing's Haidian District, home to top universities and major tech companies. While not a major tourist attraction, the park holds a special place in Klishauskaite's heart.
"There's the tradition of 'shanghua' in China, which means appreciating flowers. For this tradition, people go to parks to enjoy the flowers to celebrate the beautiful season of spring. The thing that I love about Beijing is that despite any season, even in winter, you can find some beautiful flowers," said Klishauskaite.
Next, she wandered the hutongs near Baitasi (White Dagoba Temple), a maze of ancient alleyways that preserve Beijing's cultural heritage while housing vibrant, modern communities.
"I really love walking in hutongs because it's so calm here. And the lifestyle is also different. It's actually my dream to live in hutongs once. And when you walk here, you never know what you can come (across), because there are a lot of coffee shops, galleries, some art centers. There are also some old traditional districts like this in Russia," she said.
To end the day, she enjoyed a traditional Beijing dinner featuring the city's signature dishes.
"As someone who's been living in Beijing for seven years, it's not my first time trying Peking Duck, but anyway, I love it. It's like a small duck roll which combines sweet and salty flavor," said the Russian student.
Reflecting on her day, Klishauskaite also spoke about the longstanding friendship between China and Russia, and her hopes for the future.
"After today's experience, I have learned more about Beijing and Chinese culture. The friendship between China and Russia has a long history. The people of both countries have built a deep foundation throughout history. Both sides are engaged in comprehensive cooperation in areas such as trade, technology, energy and culture. I hope that in the future, the two countries will cooperate more in various fields," said Klishauskaite.
Her journey was part of a CGTN video series inviting Chinese and Russian "Gen Z" students, born around the turn of the century, to explore each other's cultures.
The video series was launched to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Russian student tours Beijing, reflects on China-Russia ties
Russian student tours Beijing, reflects on China-Russia ties
