#留学生群体 #社会活动 #孤独 #citywalking #苏州中学 #苏州古城区
完成了上一次关于留学生“孤独感”的采访之后，我开始思考这个项目更深层次的意义。如果说采访是在记录他们的情绪与故事，那么这一次，我更希望做得是让他们真正走进一座城市的文化之中，而不仅仅是作为一名在中国读书的国际学生停留在校园里。因此，在清明节小假期之际，我和我的社团同学们带领三位来访者朋友（墨西哥留学生）参观了我所在的高中——苏州中学，希望能通过校园与城市文化的讲解，让他们更真实地了解苏州。
After finishing my previous interview with international students about their sense of loneliness, I began to reflect on the deeper meaning of this project. If the interviews served to document their emotions and stories, this time I hoped to do more: to help them truly immerse themselves in the culture of a city, rather than remaining confined to campus merely as international students studying in China. So, during the short Qingming Festival holiday, my club members and I took three visiting friends—Mexican international students—on a tour of my high school, Suzhou High School. Through introducing the campus and the city’s culture, we hoped to give them a more authentic understanding of Suzhou.
校园参观，介绍
我们从校园正门而入，迎面而来的便是极具象征意义的范仲淹雕像。讲解时，我不仅仅是介绍了建筑本身，还刻意把重点放在中国文化与历史背景上，向他们介绍了雕像背面的墙体所刻写的《岳阳楼记》，讲述了范仲淹所处的动荡的北宋时代背景、他的宏大的政治抱负，以及“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”这句话在中国文化中的意义。他们对于一个学校里会放置历史人物雕像并以文章精神作为教育象征感到非常好奇，也由此引发了我们对于许多关于中国教育文化中学习古人精神的意义的讨论。
We entered through the main gate of the campus, where the iconic statue of Fan Zhongyan stood right before us. During the tour, I didn’t just describe the structure itself; I deliberately focused on its cultural and historical significance in China. I introduced *Notes on Yueyang Tower*, inscribed on the wall behind the statue, and explained the turbulent era of the Northern Song Dynasty when Fan Zhongyan lived, his grand political aspirations, and the profound meaning of the line *“Be the first to concern oneself with the state’s worries, and the last to enjoy its comforts”* in Chinese culture. They were deeply curious about how a school would honor a historical figure with a statue and take his literary spirit as an educational symbol. This sparked a lively discussion between us about the value of learning from the wisdom and virtues of ancient figures in Chinese educational culture.
随后，我们带领他们依次参观了校园内的科学楼、红楼、紫阳楼、道山、来秀坊以及图书馆。在参观过程中，我们不只是介绍建筑用途，而是不断把话题引向中国传统文化与校园历史之间的联系。例如：校园建筑的命名来源、书院文化的传统、以及中国校园中常见的“山、水、园林”式布局理念等。
Afterwards, we showed them around the campus one by one: the Science Building, the Red Building, Ziyang Building, Daoshan Hill, Laixiu Square, and the Library. Throughout the tour, we did not merely explain the functions of these buildings; instead, we kept connecting the conversation to traditional Chinese culture and the history of the school. For instance, we talked about the origins of the building names, the tradition of ancient Chinese academy culture, and the classic “mountain, water, and garden” layout often seen in Chinese campuses.
在校园内的主干线上，有一条按照时间顺序铺设的校史时间轴。Charles同学在这里向他们讲解了苏州中学的发展历史，从晚清到近代再到现代教育体系的变化，这条时间轴不仅记录了整个学校的发展，也在某种程度上反映了中国近现代教育的发展过程。之后我们走到鱼乐池塘旁边时，Luke同学引用了《庄子》中“庄子与惠子论鱼之乐”的典故，引用这个故事向他们解释了中国哲学中关于主观体验、认知与世界关系的思考。他们对于这种在校园景观中融入哲学故事的方式感到非常有趣，觉得这种文化表达方式很有诗
Along the main path of the campus lies a school history timeline laid out in chronological order. Here, Charles shared the development history of Suzhou High School with them, covering the evolution of education from the late Qing Dynasty through modern times to the contemporary system. This timeline not only documents the school’s growth but also, to some extent, reflects the development of modern and contemporary education in China. Later, when we walked by Yule Pond (the Pond of Fish Joy), Luke cited the classic dialogue *Zhuangzi and Huizi Debate on the Happiness of Fish* from *Zhuangzi*. Using this story, he explained the ideas in Chinese philosophy concerning subjective experience, perception, and humanity’s relationship with the world. They found it fascinating that philosophical tales were integrated into campus scenery, and thought this way of expressing culture was deeply poetic.
City Walking 苏州古城区
三位来自墨西哥的朋友之前都没有来过姑苏，对于苏州文化非常陌生。但在一路的参观、讲解、提问和交流中，他们不断表现出好奇。他们说，在之前的印象中，中国的城市更多是像上海那样的现代化大都市，而姑苏却让他们看到了中国的另一种城市形态，即历史、园林、学校、人文传统交融在一起的城市。
None of the three friends from Mexico had visited Suzhou before, and they were quite unfamiliar with its culture. Yet throughout the tour—with our explanations, their questions, and our ongoing conversations—they showed constant curiosity. They mentioned that previously, they had imagined Chinese cities mostly as modern metropolises like Shanghai. But Suzhou revealed another side of China: a city where history, classical gardens, schools, and humanistic traditions blend seamlessly together.
吃完饭，我们又带他们穿梭在苏州的小巷里，参观了相对小众但很有代表性的柴园。与大型园林相比，这里更加安静、生活化，也更接近苏州人日常生活中的园林文化。他们在园子里逛了很久，不停的拍照，也一直在好奇的问关于园林设计、借景、空间布局的问题。
After lunch, we wandered with them through Suzhou’s ancient alleyways and visited Chai Garden, a relatively lesser-known yet highly representative classical garden. Compared with large, famous gardens, it is quieter, more down-to-earth, and closer to the garden culture embedded in Suzhou people’s daily lives. They spent a long time strolling in the garden, taking photos nonstop, and kept asking curious questions about garden design, borrowed scenery techniques, and spatial layout.
一天的行程快结束了，我们在沧浪亭旁的铁手咖啡店边休息边交流。一起聊了聊一天的收获。他们说今天让他们真正感受到苏州与其他现代城市（例如上海）的文化差异。上海给人的感觉是国际化、快节奏，而姑苏则更具有宁静和历史厚重感，也更容易让人慢慢融入生活。他们说，通过这一天的行程，他们感觉自己不再只是“在中国读书的留学生”，不再因为文化差异和对城市的不熟悉而社会孤独，而是开始一步步融入了姑苏的生活，进一步理解这座城市的文化，也由此更能融入在西交利物浦大学的留学生的学习和生活之中。
As the day drew to a close, we rested and chatted at Ironhand Coffee near Canglang Pavilion, sharing our thoughts on the day’s experiences. They said the day had truly let them feel the cultural difference between Suzhou and other modern cities like Shanghai. Shanghai strikes people as international and fast-paced, while Suzhou exudes a sense of tranquility and historical depth, making it easier to settle into life gently. They mentioned that after this day, they no longer felt like mere “international students studying in China,” nor did they feel socially isolated due to cultural gaps and unfamiliarity with the city. Instead, they were gradually integrating into life in Suzhou, gaining a deeper understanding of its culture, and in turn, better adapting to their studies and daily life as international students at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
对我来说，这次活动也让我重新思考这个项目的意义。最初，我只是想记录留学生的孤独与故事，但现在我逐渐意识到，这个项目不是赶走孤独，而是学会尝试减少孤独，并在它的陪伴下，通过文化理解、城市探索和人与人之间的交流，让他们能够在一个陌生的国家里，慢慢找到归属感，触摸到温度。
For me, this activity has also led me to rethink the significance of this project. At first, I only intended to record the loneliness and stories of international students. But now I have gradually realized that this project is not about eliminating loneliness, but about learning to ease it. Even with loneliness still there, through cultural understanding, urban exploration, and interpersonal communication, we can help them gradually find a sense of belonging and feel the warmth in an unfamiliar country.
苏州中学校园里温暖的角落和愿意倾听的我们，希望能点亮更多盏灯，让更多的在异乡行走的留学生知道，总有一处光的温暖，是为理解他的夜色而准备着的。
The warm corners of Suzhou High School Campus, along with us who are always ready to listen, hope to light more lamps. May more international students wandering in a foreign land know that there is always a warm light waiting, prepared to understand the darkness of their nights.