At Zongpuqiao Community Elderly Care Centre in Zhenhai’s Zhaobaoshan Subdistrict, ink met rice paper in a dance of cross-cultural harmony. Pakistani educator Yousaf from Zhenhai High School held his breath as his brush hovered over the inkstone. With a gentle dip, ink seeped into the bristles and blossomed across the paper, forming the character 'You'—its strokes carrying a foreign cadence yet resonating with Chinese lyricism. 

“This piece, ‘Long-lasting China-Pakistan Friendship,’ embodies my 12 years in China and mirrors our nations’ connected hearts,” said the business teacher-turned-calligraphy student, describing the experience as “captivating” while mastering the art of stroke modulation.

Beside him, South African physics teacher Charisma Botes painted an unconventional scene: her brush swirled emerald and golden pigments, capturing the essence of Summer Solstice—dewdrops clinging to lotus buds, whirling fan blades conjuring coolness, and glistening watermelon slices bursting with ruby flesh. “I arrived in China during summer, but only today do I truly grasp the poetry of ‘Xiazhi,” she mused. Students marvelled as her scientific precision fused with artistic expression: “Beyond equations, Ms. Botes’ brush ‘calculates’ cultural codes!” Locals and expatriates spontaneously paired up—silver-haired residents guiding foreign hands on brush grips, while international teachers shared tales from their homelands. Laughter and ink-scented camaraderie flowed like liquid across the parchment.

Expat Educator Yousaf is Learning Calligraphy. (Photo by Yongpai)

“Sharing brushes to paint bridges of friendship—this is living cultural dialogue,” remarked the community director at Zongpuqiao Community Elderly Care Centre in Zhenhai’s Zhaobaoshan Subdistrict, ink met rice paper in a dance of cross-cultural harmony. Pakistani educator Yousaf from Zhenhai High School held his breath as his brush hovered over the inkstone. With a gentle dip, ink seeped into the bristles and blossomed across the paper, forming the character 'You'—its strokes carrying a foreign cadence yet resonating with Chinese lyricism. “This piece, ‘Long-lasting China-Pakistan Friendship,’ embodies my 12 years in China and mirrors our nations’ connected hearts,” said the business teacher-turned-calligraphy student, describing the experience as “captivating” while mastering the art of stroke modulation.

Beside him, South African physics teacher Charisma Botes painted an unconventional scene: her brush swirled emerald and golden pigments, capturing the essence of Summer Solstice—dewdrops clinging to lotus buds, whirling fan blades conjuring coolness, and glistening watermelon slices bursting with ruby flesh. “I arrived in China during summer, but only today do I truly grasp the poetry of ‘Xiazhi,” she mused. Students marvelled as her scientific precision fused with artistic expression: “Beyond equations, Ms. Botes’ brush ‘calculates’ cultural codes!” Locals and expatriates spontaneously paired up—silver-haired residents guiding foreign hands on brush grips, while international teachers shared tales from their homelands. Laughter and ink-scented camaraderie flowed like liquid across the parchment. ector. From calligraphy to seasonal paintings, each creation annotated cross-cultural conversations. Where Yousaf’s “You” (the character) met Botes’ Summer Solstice tableau, their brushes embodied both “appreciating our beauty” and “sharing beauty with all”, revealing the community’s warmth through every lift and press of ink-laden tips.

Zongpuqiao Community now plans to collaborate with cultural partners, transforming traditional Chinese arts into a unifying “ink-and-brush” language for global connection. This calligraphy-kindled cultural feast is redefining the neighbourhood, where the scent of ink melds with the sizzle of woks, and residents of all hues blend pigments on palettes to chronicle a new era of “Neighbourhood Annals” upon shared rice paper.

Source: Yongpai

Reporter: Zheng Kaixia

Correspondents: Zhu Han, Wang Mengyang, Luo Mengyuan

Editors: Ye Ke, Zhou Shengli (Intern)