"Maritime Silk Road: Setting Sail", a striking 48-square-metre patchwork artwork composed of 1,200 individual fabric pieces, captivated visitors at the 10th Maritime Silk Road Culture and Tourism Expo in Ningbo. The piece symbolically depicts iconic elements of maritime trade history, including sailing ships and Chinese porcelain.
Created collaboratively by UNNC students—including 29 international exchange students, as well as students from China’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan—each patch bears a personal touch. Together, they form the silhouette of a grand vessel, representing shared human emotions and collective memories that transcend national borders and generations.
British student Faith contributed a vase-themed patch, inspired by her grandfather’s stories of Sino-British trade, while Australian exchange student Alexandra McDonald designed a teapot motif reflecting her deep appreciation for Chinese tea culture.
Professor Alain Yee Loong Chong, Vice-Provost for Global Engagement and Partnerships at UNNC, highlighted that the University brings together students from across the world who come not only in pursuit of academic excellence but also to gain a profound understanding of Chinese culture and language.
"The most effective cultural understanding comes from immersive experiences," he remarked. "That is the educational approach UNNC consistently advocates."
He expressed his hope that, through such activities, UNNC students will develop a meanful connection between culture and history—and, upon returning home, share their treasured memories of Ningbo, contributing to a new chapter in the story of the contemporary Maritime Silk Road.
Published on 24 October 2025