From July 12 to 24, 2026, members of the overseas practice team of Zhejiang University’s "Zhiyuan" Program visited three Chinese independent secondary schools in Sabah, Malaysia. Centered on the national-level cultural project "A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings," they carried out a series of cultural exchange activities themed around traditional Chinese painting, building a solid bridge for youth dialogue between China and Malaysia.

A Timeless Quest -A Cultural Marathon Across the Globe

A Timeless Quest — A "Cultural Marathon" Across the Globe. The team centered their work on the 17-year compilation journey of the "Compendium," which involved three large-scale global image collections. They shared with overseas Chinese youth the hardships and perseverance behind reuniting millennia-old masterpieces in this "museum on paper," revealing the profound truth that "cultural fortune is tied to national fortune." The seeds of cultural heritage quietly took root on foreign campuses.

Confluence of Hundred Rivers - The Mighty Power of Culture + Technology

The team used text-to-image, image-to-video, and AI driven recommendation algorithms to create short videos on traditional festivals and the 24 solar terms. These brought ancient paintings to life, immersing students in their everyday scenes and spiritual essence, and opening a new window for overseas Chinese classrooms to appreciate Chinese art.

Art Across the Seas - An Aesthetic Education Dialogue Reaching Southeast Asia

The team used AIGC to demonstrate the full workflow of "Compendium" short videos—from selection to dynamic generation. They guided students to see that while tech can replicate visuals, it cannot replace cultural empathy rooted in tradition—inspiring deeper art learning.

Echoes of Brush and Ink — Reflections from Team Members

Luo Xinyue, class of 2025 master's student, School of Arts, Malaysian Chinese: As a Malaysian Chinese, I deeply realized that good technology is not just a tool but a catalyst for emotional resonance, bringing ancient paintings from thousands of kilometers away into the hearts of Southeast Asian youth.

Han Yixin, class of 2025 Ph.D. candidate, School of Marxism: When students realized that AI can generate images but not the understanding of millennia-old culture, the class became an awakening to their cultural roots.

Zhu Xinying, class of 2024 Ph.D. candidate, School of Marxism:** Seeing the reverence in my students' eyes as they learned about the "Compendium's" 17-year journey convinced me that cultural heritage had taken root on foreign campuses.

Jin Xuan, 25 level Ph.D. student, School of Public Administration: A student told me that seeing ancient paintings come to life in videos felt particularly novel. Digital technology has opened a brand new window for overseas Chinese youth to appreciate the beauty of traditional Chinese painting.

This practice leveraged Zhejiang University's academic strengths in ancient Chinese painting, transforming the "Compendium" into an engaging cross-cultural art program that effectively promoted traditional Chinese culture abroad and strengthened youth cultural identity.