“Before, I only saw dragons in Chinese films. Now, I can feel its heartbeat with my hands – the pulse of Chinese culture.” Mithilesh Tew, a student from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, stars in a promotional video for the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Dressed in vibrant red, he moves with natural fluidity; despite having no formal training, he guides the undulating dragon with instinctive ease - a vivid testament to his connection with Chinese heritage.
Mithilesh’s bond with China began in childhood, shaped by travels with his father and an education in a Malaysian Chinese school. His father, a third-generation Malaysian Chinese of Fujian ancestry, instilled in him a strong sense of heritage. “My father always said, 'Never forget our roots, the Chinese language is our ancestors’ legacy’. " Mithilesh recalls. This grounding helped shape his identity within Malaysia's multicultural society and introduced him to China’s cultural wealth.
During his 2024-2025 exchange year at UNNC, this connection deepened. Now fluent in Mandarin, Mithilesh immersed himself fully: exploring the ancient Tianyi Ge library, cycling through Ningbo’s historic Old Bund, and savouring regional cuisines. He even undertook a light-hearted "mission" to taste Chinese-origin bubble tea brands like Guming and Mixue Bingcheng – both popular in Malaysia – at their source.
While studying Computer Science, Mithilesh observed the strength of Sino-Malaysian ties: seamless academic integration across Nottingham’s three institutions in the UK, China, and Malaysia; Malaysian peers choosing China for further studies; and extensive collaborations with Chinese tech giants such as Alibaba and Huawei.
He reflected on generational contrasts: while his ancestors sailed south in search of livelihood, his own journey - back and forth - is driven by the pursuit of dreams in a new era. "China’s rapid technological advances, particularly in artificial intelligence, are remarkable. I aim to enhance my expertise here," he stated.
His video performing the dragon dance garnered countless likes and heartfelt comments from students in both China and Malaysia. Mithilesh described the cross-border connection as “quite extraordinary”: “Though raised in different countries, shared cultural memories create powerful resonance.”
Returning to Malaysia this summer after completing his exchange, he carries cherished memories and looks forward to future opportunities to continue his learning journey in China.
Published on 27 August 2025