Where Kindness, Tea, and Culture Meet Some of the most meaningful cultural exchanges do not happen in conference halls or lecture rooms. They happen around an ordinary table. This Sunday, our home welcomed a special group of friends. As a volunteer host family for Tischlein Deck Dich, my husband and I shared a meal with volunteers and friends from different cultural backgrounds. Together, we enjoyed tea from Qingcheng Mountain, listened to the gentle sounds of the guqin, and exchanged stories from our lives. Swiss volunteers, Chinese tea, an ancient musical instrument, a food assistance organization, and people from different parts of the world—these elements may seem unrelated. Yet, on a simple Sunday afternoon beneath the Swiss Alps, they came together through kindness, openness, and friendship. As the fragrance of tea filled the room and the melodies of the guqin flowed softly through the air, I was reminded of something my teacher once told me: “Share the fragrance of this tea from the East with friends around the world.” Thousands of miles away from Qingcheng Mountain, that wish quietly came true in Switzerland. Culture is not only preserved in books, museums, or classrooms. It also lives in human encounters—in a shared meal, a cup of tea, a melody, and a genuine conversation. Perhaps this is cultural exchange in its most beautiful form. A tea leaf from Qingcheng Mountain, shared beneath the Alps. A melody that transcends language. A gathering that reminds us that kindness knows no borders. Culture knows no borders. Tea knows no borders. Kindness knows no borders. West Meets East. Ancient Meets Modern. Not as a slogan, but as a story truly lived. ❤️🍃🍵🎼🏔️ With gratitude to the volunteers and friends of Tischlein Deck Dich, whose spirit of generosity made this gathering possible. — Jian Geyang 从青城山到阿尔卑斯山 当善意、茶香与文化相遇 有些最美好的文化交流，并不发生在论坛或讲堂里。 它发生在一张普通的餐桌旁。 这个周日，我们家迎来了一群特别的朋友。作为瑞士食品援助组织 Tischlein Deck Dich 的志愿者家庭，我和先生与来自不同文化背景的伙伴们一起分享美食、品尝来自青城山的茶叶、聆听古琴，也分享彼此的人生故事。 瑞士志愿者、中国茶、古琴、食品援助组织，以及来自世界各地的人们——这些看似毫无关联的元素，在阿尔卑斯山下，因为善意而相遇。 茶香袅袅，琴声悠悠。 那一刻，我想起师傅曾经对我的嘱托： “把这份来自东方的茶香，分享给世界各地的朋友。” 千里之外，这份心意终于在瑞士悄然实现。 文化不仅存在于书本、博物馆和课堂之中，也存在于人与人的相遇之间。 一顿饭、一杯茶、一段琴声、一次真诚的交流。 或许，这就是文化交流最美的模样。 一片来自青城山的茶叶，在阿尔卑斯山下被共同分享； 一段跨越语言的琴声，连接着不同的人生； 一次温暖的相聚，让我们再次相信： 文化无国界。 茶香无国界。 善意亦无国界。 东西相遇，古今相映。 West Meets East. Ancient Meets Modern. 这不是一句口号。 而是今天真实发生的故事。 ❤️🍃🍵🎼🏔️ 谨以此文感谢 Tischlein Deck Dich 的志愿者朋友们。正是你们无私奉献的精神，让这样的相遇成为可能。 —— 简歌扬

Returning to Chongqing was both a journey home and a continuation of our cultural path. We revisited my alma mater, Sichuan International Studies University — a day of reflection, dialogue, and connection. By the Yangtze River, beneath the city lights, we felt how education and culture flow together — rooted in home, yet reaching beyond boundaries.

Beijing — a city where ancient splendor meets modern rhythm. Here, the IAK young scholars begin their journey of discovery: walking through the Forbidden City, sensing the majesty of dynasties; climbing the Great Wall, feeling the vast breath of the land; and standing in the Temple of Heaven, listening to the dialogue between Heaven and Earth. Between past and present, they search for the meaning of their own generation.

In search of the Dao — we journey to Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan, where mountains and waters embrace, and the way of nature reveals its timeless harmony.

Within the world of Guqin Master Tang Zhongliu, we hear more than melody — the breath of Heaven and Earth, the pulse of culture, and the quiet voice of the heart. This encounter marks the beginning of the IAK Cultural Journey through China. We follow the rhythm of sound and breath, and find harmony between nature and the human heart.

This evocative video portrays the IAK delegation’s performance at Bern’s Waisenhausplatz during the “Hello, China” cultural event on September 21, 2025. Amidst a blend of visual beauty and cultural depth, the film showcases Guqin music and calligraphy in motion, weaving images of ink, strings, breath, and gesture. It conveys a sincere message of peace and cross-cultural harmony, echoing the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Beautiful four seasons in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland,

This video presents the timeless sound of the Guqin, one of China’s oldest string instruments. With its gentle tones and deep resonance, the Guqin reflects harmony between nature and heart, offering a glimpse into the refined beauty of Asian culture and philosophy.