On December 22, 2025, two “Pioneer+” classes of Grade 8 from SUIS, Wanyuan campus embarked on a journey to Quanzhou, aiming to unlock the millennium-old code of the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties.
We measured the millennium-old Zhitong (Quanzhou’s ancient name) with our footsteps and touched the civilization of the Song and Yuan dynasties with our hearts — understanding the wisdom of the ancients in building bridges across the sea, unlocking the code of prosperity in maritime trade, feeling the inclusive coexistence of diverse beliefs, and appreciating the inheritance of craftsmanship in intangible cultural heritage. A group of teenagers, filled with curiosity and thirst for knowledge, traveled to Quanzhou to start this study tour integrating knowledge and practice.
Day 1: Standing Tall like the East and West Pagodas, Lying Serenely like the Luoyang Bridge
Walking along the waves to visit the ancient bridge, listening to the millennium echoes as the tide rises.
The raft foundation bears the weight of years, cultivating oysters to consolidate the base and hold back the vast sea.
The stone slabs carry traces, imprinting the homesickness of the ancestors who migrated south.
The melodious Nanyin lingers, encountering ancient Quanzhou in the sounds of silk and bamboo.
One bridge, one melody — a preliminary encounter with the charm of the World Heritage.
After arriving in Quanzhou by train on the first day, we headed to the Luoyang Bridge, driven by curiosity about Quanzhou’s “marine culture”. As China’s earliest sea-crossing stone bridge, during the Song Dynasty, the estuary of the Luoyang River was “five li wide with rolling waves”. To pray for safe sea crossings, the local people named this ferry “Wanan Ferry”, and the bridge was thus called “Wanan Bridge”, later renamed the well-known “Luoyang Bridge”. Listening to the guide’s explanation, we slowly approached Cai Xiang, the supervisor of the bridge’s construction. He once served as the magistrate of Quanzhou and was also a famous calligrapher. The stele of “Record of the Wan’an Bridge” in Cai Xiang Shrine was written by him personally. Cai Xiang’s stone statue and Cai Xiang Shrine jointly guard this grand stone bridge connecting the river and the sea. Blown by the sea breeze, we admired the scenery of the setting sun shining on the Luoyang River. Then, following the guide’s footsteps, we explored the ancient wisdom hidden in the “raft foundation”. Freed from the tedious constraints of historical texts, reading happened quietly amid the fun of travel.
——8H Beibei
“Thus, Qi boys sing and Zhao girls line up; sitting, they sing southern songs, and standing, they perform Zheng dances.” The southern songs refer to Nanyin. Chinese music is the oldest in the world, and among Chinese music, Nanyin is the most ancient. Different from folk opera, Nanyin has a rigorous structure and a mature system, with exquisitely crafted scores and rigorous inheritance emphasizing respect for teachers and systematic training. It implicitly contains the profound artistic accumulation and cultural connotation of powerful imperial music workshops and private troupes of princes and nobles. Nanyin not only inherits the ancient musical instrument shapes and performance styles but also possesses other primitive and original charms. Immersed in the vicissitudes of history, it has been sung to this day…
——8H Ressi
Day 2: In the Roar of the Rising Tides, Merchants from All Nations Gather; the Warmth of Urban Life Endures Longest
In the Maritime Silk Road Museum, unlocking the code of Maritime Silk Road trade.
Burning incense in Tianhou Temple, Mazu blesses the sails of the ancient port.
Wearing flower hairpins in Xingpu, carrying a flowing garden on the head.
Praying for favorable winds at Zhenwu Temple, the Three-Crab Dragon Well hides mysteries.
Admiring the puppet show at night, the suspended silk puppets perform all joys.
What touched me most was the earthly warmth of Xunpu Fishing Village. Aunties wearing flowers on their heads sat at the village entrance; the colorful flower decorations set off their dark faces, and their smiles were particularly bright. They peeled oysters with their fingertips, and the flower hairpins on their heads swayed gently with their movements. This thousand-year-old custom holds the code of cultural integration between the Southern Song Dynasty and Arab culture. I followed their example and pinned the flower wreath behind my ear. The fragrance of flowers lingered around my nose, and suddenly I understood the love for beauty and perseverance of Quanzhou women — working in the sea breeze, they never forgot to accompany themselves with flowers, which is the most passionate love for life. When taking photos with my peers, those smiling faces became the warmest footnotes when I read this “Quanzhou classic”.
——8H Wanwan
Quanzhou’s string puppet show, ancient known as “suspended silk puppets” or “string theater”. Following the teacher’s performance and explanation, we learned that each puppet is equipped with 16 or even more than 30 thin silk threads, distributed on the head, legs, shoulders, ears, back and other parts. “Puppet tune” is the exclusive opera music of Quanzhou string puppet shows, played by ancient musical instruments such as southern drums, clappers, and foot drums. The lively stage was filled with the laughter of the students. Everyone immersed themselves in the joy and personally experienced this traditional puppet performance.
——8H Beibei
Day 3: This Place Was Once Called the Buddhist Kingdom, and Sages Fill the Streets
Admiring the moon at Qingjing Mosque, feeling the Arab style crossing time and space.
The East and West Pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple, witnessing the prosperity of Buddhism during the Song and Yuan dynasties.
The “Quanzhou No.1” ancient ship, touching the splendid shipbuilding craftsmanship.
Climbing Qingyuan Mountain, comprehending the harmony between nature and Dao in front of Laojun Rock.
Seeking steles at Jiuri Mountain, the wind-praying inscriptions record the passing merchant ships.
Under the overall management of the Maritime Trade Supervisorate, Quanzhou became a bustling trade hub: a large number of overseas goods entered China from here, while our ceramics, tea, and silk set sail from here to the sea, forming a prosperous trade cycle. This not only brought wealth to the local area but also added a brilliant chapter to the economy of the Song Dynasty. When talking about maritime trade, we must mention the ships of ancient times. The maritime routes from the 12th to the 13th centuries were full of dangers; a sudden strong wind or a heavy rain could sink the entire ship and drown the crew. To solve this fatal problem, the ancients racked their brains and invented the “watertight bulkhead” technology: they divided the ship’s bottom into thirteen sealed compartments. Even if one compartment was flooded, the water would only flow into the middle compartment, allowing the crew to pump water and repair it in time, greatly reducing the risk of shipwreck. Learning this, I was filled with surprise — thousands of years ago, our shipbuilding technology was already so advanced!
——8G Lincy
Day 4: Kiln Fires Have Burned Bright for a Millennium, Merchant Ships Have Sailed Ten Thousand Miles
At the Cizao Kiln Site, watching the ceramic kiln fires shining through ancient and modern times.
The weathered red-brick houses, with swallowtail ridges harboring homesickness.
The Manichaean Light Buddha stands, witnessing the coexistence of diverse beliefs.
Looking far from Liusheng Pagoda, the beacon guides the millennium maritime route.
One kiln, one house, one Buddha, one pagoda — all are imprints of the Maritime Silk Road.
The Manichaean Light Buddha statue is the only surviving statue related to Manichaeism in the world, and the only remaining trace of this religious system. Manichaeism became extinct hundreds of years ago, and this perfectly preserved sacred statue confirms its existence. When I stepped into the small temple with my left foot, I looked up and saw it protected by glass. At the first sight, I felt goosebumps all over my body. He sits in the center, hands resting on his thighs, with a kind expression on his face, exuding a sacred Buddha light around him. In a sense, he wants to prove that the glory of Manichaeism can still shine and bloom.
——8G Evan Zhang
As the ancients said: “Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.” Once I thought that reading was just holding a book and seeking truth in words. It was not until this trip to Quanzhou that I realized travel is also a form of reading.
Opening this thick book, there are those red walls and ancient tiles, neatly arranged on both sides of the street. The stone slabs on the ground shine brightly under the sunlight, as if seeing the interesting things that happened here. After thousands of years of wind and dew, there is no hustle and bustle of big cities here; everything goes calmly, calming people’s hearts.
——8G Nina
Day 5: Culture Conveys Dao, Confucian Virtues Pass Down Through Families
Visiting the ancient Confucian Temple, the magnificent halls inherit the cultural context.
The overlapping rhythms of architecture from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the fragrance of books nourishes the hearts of teenagers.
Reflecting on sages under the Lingxing Gate, comprehending the path of seeking knowledge by the Pan Pool.
The five-day study tour eventually comes to an end, but the Maritime Silk Road cultural context will be passed down forever.
Teenagers march forward, setting off again with millennial wisdom!
Five days passed in the blink of an eye, and the study tour came to an end. During this journey, I studied, enjoyed happiness, joked around, and dined together with my classmates. It was also the last time we could go out to study and enjoy ourselves in another place together. Some of us have known each other for a long time, while others just joined, but we all will not forget the beautiful times of studying, playing, and joking around together. And these are our own precious memories.
——8G Evan zhang
Over the five-day study tour, our footsteps traversed the ancient port, mountains, and rivers; the millennial cultural context has been deeply engraved in the hearts of teenagers. We have seen the rise and fall of the tides at Luoyang Bridge, heard the melodious Nanyin, comprehended the mighty Confucian style at the Confucian Temple, and understood the watchfulness of kiln fires and beacons. We not only gained historical knowledge and cultural insights but also understood the Quanzhou spirit of “inclusiveness and perseverance”. Young people are full of vigor; carrying this love for mountains and seas and the aspiration for civilization, they will surely keep moving forward and pass on the legacy endlessly.
