The Spring Equinox is the fourth of the 24 solar terms. On March 20, 36 students from CUHK-Shenzhen and President Yansheng Xu experienced the joy of farming, tasting Hakka cuisine, and the beauty of the ceramic art in the Hakka town of Gankeng.

Briefly escaping from the busy schedule, the students picked up hoes and learned how to plow, sort out weeds, loosen and turn the soil with President Xu.

The process of working was a joyful one. Many of the students remarked that it was a great relief to spare half a day to work on the farm during the midterm.

Although it is spring, the temperature in South China has already reached 30 ℃. Even so, it was still a refreshing experience. There is nothing like hands-on labor to make us more thankful for the soil, sunshine, fruits, vegetables, and the season of farming that nature has given us.

Finally, after the seedlings of green lettuce were planted, the spring farming experience was coming to an end.

The lunch was served in the over 200-year-old Zhuangyuan Mansion. The mansion is rich in history with its ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings, and inch wood art. In such an environment, the students enjoyed the local Hakka cuisine with President Xu. After the meal, the students had a short visit to the Phoenix Valley in the town, rounding off the spring farming activity.

Translator: Hedy Hu (HSS)