Cultural weeks are vibrant in UWC Changshu, but Chinese culture is represented by the same stereotypical performances. It’s hard to discover where the true spirit of the culture is. The more I practice them, the more I feel the emptiness.

I figured the works of literary figures like Haizi and Yu Xiuhua serve as the most authentic representation of the spiritual ethos of contemporary Chinese youth, as I see the pursuit of literary romanticism amidst the dichotomy between idealism and constraints of reality. The same as music, the idea behind can go through under the beauty of language. So, I created this space where discussions originate from ideas in poems, without the dry, academic deconstruction of literature one would experience in class.

I find the most poetic way possible for us to gather. Inspiration to me, is like a gust of wind rustling through the garden of ideas, each time distilling a different melange of fragrances. Why don’t we go experience what nature has to offer on this isolated but beautiful island, as poets?

Recent Activities

Our cross-cultural poetry workshop during the CCE week on Feb. 3rd were a huge success with 9 countries represented. We discussed 12 poems like Oh Captain, My Captain and Crossing the Country to Sleep With You by Xiuhua Yu. We did Cut-up Collage Poems and participants took home bookmarks with these poems.