Recently, at the "Hi, Wuhan" Global Short Video Competition organized by Wuhan Broadcasting and Television Group, a cross-cultural production team consisting of Russian international student Sofiia Shatalova from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and four Chinese students from the School of Journalism and Cultural Communication stood out with their work "A vlog of a Russian girl crossing the river" successfully winning the competition's Bronze Award and the Online Popularity Award.
The competition, undertaken by the Yangtze International Communication Center of Wuhan Broadcasting Group, attracted creators from over 20 countries and regions worldwide. The entries were disseminated through more than 400 overseas mainstream media outlets, including PR Newswire and Yahoo Finance, reaching an audience of hundreds of millions. It has become a significant international communication platform for showcasing Wuhan's urban image to the world. The award-winning work, "Crossing the Yangtze Five Ways: A Dialogue with the City," employs a unique narrative structure, documenting the team members' experience of crossing the Yangtze River in Wuhan through five modes of transportation: walking, cycling, bus, ferry, and ride-hailing. The film not only captures the grandeur of the Yangtze River Bridge and the sparkling lights on both banks but also, through details such as a citizen on the bus recounting the origins of Sino-Russian bridge construction and observing the vibrancy of daily life on the ferry, elevates the physical crossing of space into a connection of cultural emotions. "We attempted to rediscover Wuhan—a city born from the river and thriving because of its bridges—through the eyes of an international friend," introduced the team representative. "What the film aims to convey is that Wuhan possesses both the majestic momentum of a great river and the warm delicacy of everyday life."
The formation of this award-winning team represents a successful exploration in cross-cultural communication practice, demonstrating the unique advantage of the "international student perspective + Chinese student professional expertise" team model. It also reflects the organic integration of ideological education through curriculum and professional practice, transforming "telling China's stories well" into vivid creative work. Furthermore, it signifies an innovation in the international expression of a city's image, winning resonance from audiences both at home and abroad through the micro-level experiences and genuine emotions of youth. This embodies the educational characteristics of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and international cultivation.
Zhongnan University of Economics and Law has long actively built platforms for exchange between Chinese and international students, encouraging cross-cultural cooperation and innovative practice. The International Education School collaborates with various academic schools through jointly developed courses, project-based learning, cultural activities, and other forms to create opportunities for deep interaction between Chinese and international students. The award-winning team expressed that they will continue to focus on Wuhan, this "city of universities and youth," to create more visual works that showcase the city's vitality and cultural depth. Sofiia also stated, "This experience has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. I will continue to share my discoveries and feelings in China through my lens." As China increasingly moves closer to the center of the world stage, cultivating young talent with both international vision and cross-cultural communication skills has become ever more important. Zhongnan University of Economics and Law will continue to promote internationalized education, encouraging more Chinese and international students to join hands in cooperation, becoming youthful envoys of cultural exchange and presenting a truthful, multidimensional, and comprehensive China to the world.
