When Haidian's strong voice in innovation meets the global vision of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), a new initiative for dialogue among civilizations is taking shape.
Recently, the first episode of the short video series Meet in Haidian - Dialogue Among Civilizations, jointly produced by the Haidian District Media Convergence Center and the BLCU News Center, was released. Centered on a model of joint Chinese and international storytelling, it marks a new step forward in collaboration between local media and universities to engage global audiences.
First Episode Released: Showcasing Haidian Through an International Lens
For the debut episode, Li Mingcheng, a Nigerian postdoctoral fellow and emerging young sinologist at BLCU, was invited to explore Haidian from a global perspective, embarking on a journey that bridges cultures and time.
The three featured venues are not just hotspots on social media, but crafted spaces for cross-cultural communication:
The Summer Palace (Golden Heritage): Bearing a thousand years of cultural heritage, it is an important window showcasing oriental aesthetics.
Beijing AI Genesis Community (Silver Innovation): Rooted in a highland of scientific and technological innovation, it highlights strong technological strength and human-centered development.
Beijing Language and Culture University (Colorful Integration): Known as the "Little United Nations", it brings together young people from around the world.
Stronger University-Media Synergy Yields Fruitful Results
To promote mutual learning among Chinese and foreign civilizations and cultural exchanges between young people, the Haidian District Media Convergence Center and the BLCU News Center have given full play to their respective strengths, carried out in-depth linkage, and continuously expanded global communication. Known as the "Little United Nations", BLCU boasts abundant international resources: 300,000 international students proficient in Chinese and familiar with Chinese culture are spread all over the world, with 3 branch campuses, 4 China studies institutes and 29 Confucius Institutes (Confucius Classrooms) radiating influence overseas. These are not only precious assets of BLCU, but also an important window for Haidian to connect with the world and consolidate the community with a shared future for mankind. Based on a common communication philosophy, the two sides have made joint efforts and achieved fruitful results in their early cooperation:
Cultural Immersion: At the Haidian Mid-Autumn Cultural Vitality Night Event， more than 40 international students from various countries visited the Tuancheng Drill Hall, engaged in in-depth interactions with local families, and experienced the charm of intangible cultural heritage such as dough figurine making and facial makeup painting—allowing traditional culture to resonate across borders.
Content Co-creation: In the "Beijing Style" Short Video Contest, international students from BLCU co-created content from diverse perspectives, telling cross-cultural stories through the lens and presenting a vivid and multidimensional image of China to the world.
Creative Community Building: The launch of the "Light and Shadow Circle of Friends" initiative has attracted many BLCU students to join the creator community, helping them transform from "cultural experiencers" to "cultural communicators" and building a regular platform for exchange and cooperation.
Looking Ahead: More Stories of Haidian to Reach the World
In the future, the Haidian District Media Convergence Center and the BLCU News Center will continue to make vigorous efforts in content co-creation and communication, bringing more stories of Haidian—and of China—to global audiences, and contributing vivid examples to mutual learning among civilizations.
