Ural Federal University’s Chinese-Russian Institute Students Trip across the Urals

Students and teachers from the UrFU Chinese-Russian Institute made a trip around the Urals to explore history, sights, and traditions. The students from the People’s Republic of China visited Nevyansk, learned about the history of the city, visited the Leaning Tower and even chatted with fishermen.

“We wanted to show the guys from China our backbone land of the state, the grey-haired Ural. My colleagues and I love and feel proud of our history and traditions, and we wanted to share our love, tell students about true Russia and folk traditions. And a Shrovetide folk festival is the perfect time for this,” said Alyona Nevolina, Head of UrFU Academic Development Department.

Next point of the trip was the village Chernoistochinsk, art-cluster “Na Chernaya”, where were held the Shrovetide festivities. The students gracefully passed the games, visited the fair of the Urals craftsmen and took part in the fire show “Burning of the Maslenitsa Scarecrow”. Then there was a workshop on making clay products in the ceramic studio “Yolka” from the honored artist-ceramist Elena Proshko and one more workshop on making mosaics. All together around the table with pancakes and tea, everyone summed up the trip.

“I’ve been studying in Yekaterinburg for three years now, but I haven’t had a chance to travel around the Urals. For me it was very interesting to learn the traditions of people from the Urals, to see the Nevyansk Leaning Tower, and to take part in Russian folk festivals. I was impressed by how Russians celebrate traditional festival and was really happy to participate”, – shared his impression Xiao Shotin, Master student and student leader of the UrFU Chinese-Russian Institute.