On June 13, the Tianyige Museum’s “Timeless Tales Together” overseas study tour entered the Confucius Institute at the University of Toamasina in Madagascar, bringing African teachers and students together online for a grand feast of traditional Chinese culture.

As the oldest existing private library in Asia, with a history of more than 450 years, Tianyige is not only a treasure of world cultural heritage but also an important symbol of Chinese civilization. In class, African teachers and students, through the video lens, slowly unveiled the mystery of Tianyi Pavilion.

Guided by a study tour instructor, they “travelled” virtually through the Tiangyige—viewing the bronze statue of Fan Qin, visiting Dongming Thatched Cottage, paying homage to the Precious Books Building, appreciating the treasured collections of the Museum’s founder Fan Qin, and experiencing the legendary story of safeguarding Chinese classics.

(All photos in this article are from the event site and are from the correspondent.)

In the classics recitation segment, a traditional Chinese studies teacher presented an enlightening introduction to Chinese traditional culture through the video recitation of the Three Character Classic. 

When the resonant words “At the beginning of man, nature is good” were spoken aloud by young African students with dark skin, it was as if a cultural symphony transcending time and space had been played. Prisca, a student’s parent, remarked: “Although the language is different, when reading the Three Character Classic with my child, I can feel the rhythmic beauty of Chinese. Seeing my child follow along so attentively was very touching, and it has sparked greater interest in Chinese culture for us.”

This online study tour was meticulously designed, featuring special hands-on sessions in traditional Chinese thread-bound bookbinding and brush-and-ink art. Under the careful guidance of local teachers, African students threaded needles, sewing pages together stitch by stitch; they also picked up gilded brushes to solemnly write classic quotations from Chinese literature on plain paper, then mounted their work with marbled paper as a backdrop and framed it exquisitely.

At the end of the event, Dean Wang of the Confucius Institute at the University of Toamasina said with heartfelt emotion: “We are truly grateful to Tianyi Pavilion for building this bridge across mountains and seas, enabling our students to break through the limits of time and space and experience the profound depth of Chinese civilization in an immersive way. The sincerity and dedication to cultural heritage are truly admirable.”

It is reported that this event was the third stop of the Tianyige Museum’s 2025 “Timeless Tales Together” overseas study tour. In the future, the Tianyige Museum will continue to expand the scope of its “study tours,” allowing more overseas youth to appreciate the unique and fascinating charm of Chinese civilization.

Source: Yongpai

Reporters: Xie Shuyi, Zhang Xinrui

Correspondents: Li Chengzi

Editor: Ye Ke