A group of students from SOLNCE School in Kazan, Russia, arrived at Shenzhen Nanshan Arts & Sciences Experimental School Group Kechuang School on June 13, kicking off a weeklong cultural exchange program.

The visit marks the first in-person interaction between the two schools since they signed a sister school agreement in March, which was facilitated by the Shenzhen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. It follows three online exchange sessions that focused on cultural sharing, campus life, and building personal connections.

Sofia Fedotova (C) from SOLNCE School in Kazan, Russia, reacts warmly to the enthusiastic welcome from peers at Shenzhen Nanshan Arts & Sciences Experimental School Group Kechuang School on June 13.  Photos by Liu Xudong

Upon arrival, the Kazan students were welcomed with a ceremony featuring a joint performance of the Russian folk song “Katyusha” by student representatives from both schools.

Following the ceremony, icebreaker games helped the students from different backgrounds connect. Shy at first, students from the two schools found themselves laughing along during a game of charades, using gestures and bits of English and Russian to communicate words like “badminton” and “accordion.”

Kazan students perform on stage during a welcoming ceremony at Shenzhen Nanshan Arts & Sciences Experimental School Group Kechuang School on June 13.

A campus tour offered glimpses into daily school life at Kechuang School. The Kazan students were greeted warmly by their Kechuang peers, who quickly moved in to chat with them.

The highlight for the Kazan students that day was experiencing traditional Chinese arts firsthand. During a calligraphy demonstration, students carefully tried writing the character “Fu,” which means good fortune.

Students proudly display the Chinese characters they wrote during a calligraphy session at Kechuang School in Nanshan District on June 13.

“It was very interesting. I like calligraphy a lot,” said Ildar, a 15-year-old student from SOLNCE School, who tried calligraphy for the first time.

“I think it’s really fun. I enjoy calligraphy and I like the smell of ink,” Sofia Fedotova, from the Kazan school, told Shenzhen Daily.

At a paper-cutting workshop, the Kazan students managed to cut intricate and beautiful patterns and pasted them onto silk fans with help from their Chinese peers.

A Kazan student (L) tries traditional paper-cutting with guidance from a Chinese student.

“Both paper-cutting and calligraphy are mesmerizing experiences for us. Paper-cutting is kind of difficult because it requires a lot of attention,” a student identified only as Ilgiia shared.

The school visit is part of a broader exchange. The Kazan students will spend a week participating in classes, cultural activities, excursions, and homestays with student families of Kechuang School, further deepening their understanding of Chinese culture and daily life.

Sofia Fedotova poses with her counterpart from Shenzhen Nanshan Arts & Sciences Experimental School Group Kechuang School. 

Officials from both schools hope the exchange will foster lasting friendships and provide valuable cross-cultural learning experiences for all participants. The visit is seen as a tangible step forward in deepening educational cooperation between China and Russia.