My encounter with Zhejiang as an exchange student

My name is Amina Usmanova, and I am currently doing an exchange semester at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST). I come from Kazakhstan and have been studying in German Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH). 
Coming to study at ZUST has been a mix of learning, adapting, and exploring. Life in Hangzhou surprised me in a good way. It’s one of the most interesting cities I’ve been to —where modern buildings, nature, and traditional culture exist side by side. There’s always something to do, whether it’s visiting a tea village, walking around the lakes, or just visiting the city center.
At first, it was a bit hard to adjust—especially because of the language and the completely new environment. But slowly things started to feel more familiar. The support from teachers and friends I’ve made here helped a lot. One thing I really appreciate is how easy it is to contact professors. They reply quickly and are open to questions, which makes a big difference when you’re studying in a different educational system. The campus itself is also really nice. I heard it used to be a forest park, and honestly, it still feels like one with all the trees and open spaces.

During the stay in Hangzhou, ZUST launched the cultural immersion program. On May 10, as part of this program, we went to Shaoxing to check rural development and its culture preservation. We visited the Potang Village, which is a good example of how rural areas are trying to modernize while still holding on to its local and yet unique culture. I learned that more Chinese people were leaving villages to live and work in cities. That’s something I’ve seen in my own country too. But nowadays, things get to change and some young people start to stay in rural areas. This made me think more about the similarities and changes. In the Shaoxing Yellow Wine Museum , we saw how wine has been made over the years. I didn’t know much about it before, so learning how important it is to the local culture was new for me. We also had a chance to walk around the older parts of Shaoxing. The old streets, small canals, and traditional houses gave a very different feeling from Hangzhou. I’m glad ZUST gives us chances to explore places like this—it’s not something I could have probably done on my own.
Another place that I did not expect is the trip to the Robotics Exhibition Center-it was more than just machines. We got to try some of the tech ourselves, and it showed how automation is becoming part of daily life even outside the big cities. It was both cool and a little strange to imagine how fast things are changing. 
Another trip I really enjoyed was to the Yuhang Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum. There we saw crafts like bamboo weaving and foil printing. These are things I usually only see online or in documentaries, so it was different to see them in person. You could tell the people working there really care about what they do. It made me think about how fast traditions can disappear if no one takes care of them. 
This exchange experience has made me think a lot—not just about China, but also about my own background and goals. There were challenges, especially at the beginning, but I’m really glad I came. I’ve learned not just from classes, but from the people I met and the places I’ve seen. These trips and daily moments are what I’ll remember the most.

Amina Usmanova from 
Zhejiang University of Science and Technology
Source: Hangzhoufeel