Under the ancient city walls of Tianxin Pavilion in Changsha, Hunan province, 26-year-old Ghanaian student Ako Nai Emmanuella Daniella bent down to touch weathered bricks engraved with Chinese characters, her voice trembling with emotion. "Educating a girl means educating a nation. I want more girls from my hometown to learn Chinese," she said.

She was among 115 international students from Central South University's School of International Education who recently explored the ancient site, immersing themselves in China's linguistic heritage and intangible cultural traditions through interactive activities.

The journey began at the 2,200-year-old city wall remnants from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24). Myanmar student Kyaw Zin Phyo Aung Phyu excitedly identified the Chinese character nian, meaning year, on a weathered brick. "My Chinese teacher first taught me this character about the Chinese New Year," recalled the 23-year-old, touching the engraved character fondly.

For Daniella, learning Chinese has been transformative. After three years of study at a Confucius Institute in Ghana, she arrived in Changsha last September. "Chinese empowers women to pursue dreams beyond traditional roles," said the eldest of four sisters. She aims to complete her postgraduate studies in Changsha and return to teach at Ghana's Confucius Institute, inspiring more girls through her journey.

The cultural immersion continued with traditional activities. At the pavilion's summit, students marveled at panoramic views of the Xiangjiang River and Yuelu Mountain.

Face-changing performances ignited particular excitement. Turkmen student Allagulyyev Abdyrahym studied the color symbolism: "Red for loyalty, blue for strength!" Nearby, dough sculpting and palm-weaving workshops allowed hands-on creativity. "My panda looks clumsy, but the teacher praised my originality," laughed one student holding her first dough artwork.