From July 27 to 31, the Communist Youth League Committee of Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) partnered with the Fourth Construction Co Ltd of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division to host a city exploration program for rural kids.
Ten children from Guizhou and Hubei provinces, accompanied by graduate volunteer teachers, embarked on a five-day journey in Qingdao, Shandong province.
At the marine science centers of Ocean University of China, the children explored deep-sea exhibits. "Seawater even contains medicine!" marveled Jiang Tingwei from Hubei. Yang Hongrong from Guizhou was inspired: "Universities are so fascinating — I'll study hard to get in."
At Qingdao Underwater World, the young attendees watched green sea turtles and sharks glide past a tunnel walkway. Volunteer Niu Xintao answered their questions about fish species and marine habitats.
At the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, Wang Qiuyue proudly learned about Guo Chuan, China's first professional ocean sailor. The children also watched a maritime performance and visited Qingdao's Wusi Square, learning more patriotic stories from Chinese history.
The journey continued at the theater inside Silk Road Romance Park, showcasing the region's maritime Silk Road history, and the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center, where children explored the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Previously, I could only imagine the sea from textbooks — now I've seen it with my own eyes!" said Wang Yuyan.
As the bus departed, volunteer Liu Yanghao reassured the kids: "The ocean has no end — it stretches as far as you can go."
Now in its 12th year, the program has taken more than 230 rural children to cities across China, turning classroom dreams into real-world inspiration.

Children pose for a group photo at the front of a theater in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

Children pose for a group photo at Qingdao's Wusi Square. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

A volunteer provides scientific explanations in an easily digestible manner for children. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]