Plurality, Interactivity & Harmony: Yunnan Cultural Study Exchange Programme, a joint initiative between the University of Hong Kong’s School of Chinese and Yunnan University held in March 2015 and involving 60 HKU students, has been awarded the Gold Prize for "Education Exchange Model" in the China 1,000 Exchange Programme.

Yunnan University recently published a book, “Plurality, Interactivity & Harmony: HKU & Yunnan University Cultural Study Travel Journal”, documenting the success of the programme. The book, which is supported by the Chinese Education Ministry, provides information on the development and objectives of the programme, highlights the value of cultural exchange, and includes student reflections on their 10-day study trip.

The first Yunnan Cultural Study Exchange Tour included lectures by prominent scholars, an opportunity to engage with Yunnan University students, and visits to major historical sites in Kunming, Shaxi, Jianchuan, Lijiang, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Dali. HKU students shared their experiences in an interview with RTHK Radio on 28 March 2015. Following the success of the first tour, a second tour took place in October 2015.

The coordinator of the programme, Mr Hayson Liu of the School of Chinese, led a separate visit to the Dunhuang Silk Road in March 2016. The trip received positive feedback from students as well as from its institutional partner in China, the Dunhuang Academy of Lanzhou University. A television interview with three HKU programme participants was broadcast on Gansu Gaotao Television’s news channel on 8 March 2016.