Campus studio goes global

Pursuing excellence

One of the studio's most popular video series focuses on the transformation of ethnic costumes. Featuring a student as the model, the series uses traditional Chinese colors as a unifying theme, weaving together the clothing and culture of over 50 different ethnic groups.

"This series isn't just about changing clothes; we've also incorporated accessories and elements of ethnic dance, paying close attention to every detail,"Zhang said.

When discussing the series' appeal to international audiences, Wu offered an important insight: they likely prefer formats that feature real people on camera and strong storytelling."We need to make cultural communication more vivid and relatable," she suggested."Incorporating real-life atmosphere and emotions would be highly beneficial."

One of the team's key abilities is uncovering the cultural significance behind trending events. For example, when news broke in July about the UNESCO World Heritage designation of the Xixia Imperial Tombs, Zhang saw an opportunity to lead the team in creating a video series on this historical site.

However, producing content on such topics came with its own set of challenges, especially concerning factual accuracy. To ensure the information was correct, Zhang invited a professor from Ningxia University, an expert in the history of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227), to write the script.

Creating a rich visual presentation also proved difficult. To effectively showcase the tombs and their past grandeur, students from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering used 3D modeling and AI technology to restore the relics' original appearance.

Looking toward the future, the studio has already mapped out its next big project. Chen revealed that the team is preparing a "China Travel" series and has completed over 60 scripts. This series will leverage China's recent visa-free policies to introduce foreign tourists to cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai, highlighting local cuisine, intangible cultural heritage, and the stories of notable historical figures.

"We might even recommend specific restaurants, making the videos more practical so that viewers can directly experience these places after watching,"Chen said.

According to him, the studio's goal has always been clear: to tell China's stories well in two languages.

For Zhang, this is more than just a slogan — it's a mission shared by every team member.

"As educators and students in foreign studies, learning languages is not only about seeing the world but also about allowing the world to see China," she said.