On June 2, a delegation consisting of representatives from Triang New Village in Malaysia and faculty & students of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) paid a field visit to Mutianyu Great Wall. As a key stop of their field research themed "Beijing’s Rural Revitalization and Cultural Heritage Conservation", this educational field trip atop the iconic Great Wall enabled the overseas visitors to experience the profound roots of ancient Chinese civilization firsthand. It also brought grassroots administrators and young generations from China and Malaysia together to discuss cultural inheritance and explore future cooperation, serving as a heartwarming milestone for people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
The delegation’s itinerary artfully centered on two core themes: rural development and cultural heritage preservation. On their first day, the group toured Beigou Village to witness China’s tangible achievements in rural revitalization and observe how ancient hamlets have undergone modern transformation. They climbed Mutianyu Great Wall on June 2, linking their on-site observations of rural development with the mission of safeguarding cultural heritage and gaining a deeper understanding of how the two causes complement and fuel one another. Guided by professional tour guides, visitors learned about the Great Wall’s historical evolution, sophisticated construction craftsmanship and pivotal military functions, turning centuries of recorded history into an immersive, tangible experience and inspiring profound respect for this UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Riding cable cars uphill, the group took in sweeping vistas of the undulating Yanshan Mountains with the serpentine ancient ramparts snaking across the mountain ridges. Upon reaching the upper cable car platform, guided by on-site staff, the delegation joined a distinctive interactive activity: the Great Wall brick-carrying experience.
Through this hands-on challenge, participants gained a visceral understanding of the grueling labor behind the Great Wall’s construction, as well as the patience, meticulousness and profound reverence required for heritage stewardship. The immersive exercise transformed the abstract concept of heritage protection into concrete practice, helping visitors form a comprehensive, in-depth grasp of the Great Wall preservation mission and China’s core cultural heritage guideline: prioritize heritage preservation while advancing cultural inheritance and sustainable development.
At the end of the visit, the group stood atop a Great Wall watchtower and admired the majestic stretch of the ancient fortifications enfolded by rolling mountains. The aged, weathered masonry of the Great Wall formed a striking contrast against the visitors’ youthful faces, freezing a precious snapshot of China-Malaysia cultural friendship. Building on the earlier signing of the International Sister Village partnership between Beigou Village and Triang New Village, this trip allowed Malaysian guests to witness Beijing’s fruitful progress in rural revitalization and turn themselves into firsthand perceivers, disseminators and guardians of Great Wall culture. The experience has laid a solid foundation for deeper bilateral collaboration in rural construction and cultural preservation under the sister-village framework.
Moving forward, Mutianyu Great Wall will continue to leverage its standing as a world-famous cultural and tourism landmark to welcome visitors from all over the globe, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and friendly exchanges between civilizations for years to come.
