International students learn about the history and evolution of Chinese characters via a touch screen during an event held in the International Cultural Big Data (Taishan) Industrial Town in Tai'an, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A group of international students visited the International Cultural Big Data (Taishan) Industrial Town in Taishan district, Tai'an, East China's Shandong province, on Aug 15, and had a chance to experience the integration of big data and traditional cultural industries.

The international students visited the culture exhibition zone and the industrial zone, where the cultural heritage items such as murals, calligraphy and painting, silk textiles, and sculptures are presented via holographic projection technology, impressing the students with special animated effects.

In the "power of Chinese characters" art corridor, the international students learned about culture and the evolution of Chinese characters via a touch screen.

"The holographic projection technology here is different from any of the ones I have ever seen. The digital technologies showed me China's development and culture, which impressed me a lot," said a student from the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Two international students take a selfie in the holographic projection hall in the International Cultural Big Data (Taishan) Industrial Town in Tai'an, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The international students also dressed in hanfu (traditional Chinese apparel) and tangzhuang ( a hybrid of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) clothing and modern elements) to learn tea art and enjoy the Chinese folk song Mo Li Hua, or Jasmine Flower, which was played on Chinese traditional musical instruments.      

"Through learning tea art, I also learned about unique Chinese etiquette and experienced the prosperous Chinese culture," said an international student from Tanzania.

International students experience tea art during an event held in the International Cultural Big Data (Taishan) Industrial Town in Tai'an, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International students listen to a musician play Guzheng, the Chinese zither, during an event held in the International Cultural Big Data (Taishan) Industrial Town in Tai'an, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]