On the morning of March 10, 29 students from Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) in Germany took part in the 2026 International Haikou Salon and visited Haikou’s Qilou Historical and Cultural Quarter.

German students visit Qilou Historical and Cultural Quarter in Haikou. (Photo by Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province)

There, they learned about the history of the “Coconut City” and the island province of Hainan, and experienced local intangible cultural heritage, including Qiong Opera and traditional paper-cutting.

The visit marked the final stop of the students’ Spring School program in China. For many of them, it was their first trip to Hainan, to China, and even to Asia.

The students began their journey in Shanghai in late February before traveling to Hainan for a week-long workshop with Chinese students from Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (BiUH), located in Yangpu Economic Development Zone, Danzhou City in northwest Hainan.

Established by HSBI in 2021 with approval from China’s Ministry of Education, BiUH is the first higher-education institution in China to be operated by a German public university. Its establishment was made possible by the Hainan Free Trade Port's preferential opening-up policies.

Reflecting on the Spring School program, many participants said the trip left them with a strong and positive impression of China and Hainan. During their visit to Qilou, the students enjoyed a live Qiong Opera performance and sampled local snacks served with Hainan coffee.

German students try on Qiong Opera costumes.

Nikita Katrusch, an industrial engineering student from Paderborn in western Germany, said that what first struck him about Hainan was its tropical scenery, especially the beaches. He described the BiUH campus in Danzhou as a place where students can “explore possibilities and make progress.”

Katrusch noted that most Chinese students live in on-campus dormitories, which differs from common practice in Germany. However, he said students in both countries “share the same goal of studying hard and gaining knowledge.” He also expressed appreciation for the friendliness of people in China, saying he could always find someone willing to help, “even on the street.”

Luis Denninghoff, a business economics student who delivered a summary speech at BiUH the day before, said young people in Germany and China share many similarities, particularly their dedication to study and work.

German students try their hand at paper-cutting. (Photo by Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province)

“China and Germany are both dedicated and hard-working nations. I was really impressed by the Chinese students at BiUH and how eager they are to learn,” he said.

The project Denninghoff worked on with his Chinese peers was, in his words, “more than successful” — not only because of the strong results they achieved, but also because of the friendships formed through teamwork. As a first-time visitor to China, he said he was deeply touched by the kindness of the people he met and pleasantly surprised by how much Chinese students shared with them about local culture and traditions.

“It has been one of the greatest trips in my life so far. I am very glad I made the decision to join,” he added.

For Anna-Luisa Kiper, who was visiting Asia for the first time, China’s technology-driven lifestyle was particularly impressive. She said mobile apps such as DiDi and Alipay made transportation and payments very convenient.

She also praised the design of the BiUH campus, especially its sports facilities. Following her teamwork experience with her Chinese peers, she observed that German students tend to be more “creative,” while Chinese students often demonstrate strong efficiency.

The ongoing development of the Hainan Free Trade Port is strengthening international cooperation in many sectors, including education. Initiatives such as the establishment of BiUH and the Spring School program have become important platforms for exchanges between Chinese and foreign universities and their students.

“It is an incredible opportunity for international exchange, and the benefits for both sides are very clear.” Such opinion was echoed by Harald Penner, head of the International Office at BiUH, who served as a team leader for the visiting group.

Penner said the experiences the German students have had — and will take home with them — make them “ambassadors” and “bridges” in many ways. Their views of China have changed significantly, and many already hope to return or even study in China.

The same is true for Chinese students, he added, who now have the opportunity to engage in first-hand interaction with their German peers. More exchange opportunities are expected this summer, when BiUH launches summer school programs that will bring Chinese students to Germany.

German students take part in the 2026 International Haikou Salon. (Photo by Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province)

All these forms of exchange “are important for the future by building mutual understanding,” Penner said, adding that the Hainan Free Trade Port serves as an important hub for such cooperation.