International students join Ningbo kelp harvest

[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International students at Ningbo University spent the morning of May 15 at a coastal aquaculture site in Fenghua district, joining local farmers in harvesting kelp from floating rafts and experiencing daily life in a traditional seaside fishing community. 

Students worked alongside growers to pull long strands of slippery kelp from the water, with many saying the activity was more physically demanding than expected, but also fun and unforgettable, offering a rare close-up look at how seaweed farming is done along China's coast.

Zeina Saeed, a student from Sudan, said the work quickly became intense under the morning sun and described it as tiring but really enjoyable, adding that she did not expect kelp harvesting to require so much strength.

Marjan Ebadi from Iran, who has been living and studying in Ningbo for more than two years, said she had tasted local kelp dishes before but was excited to finally harvest it herself, calling it a completely different experience from simply eating it.

After the harvest, the group visited kelp-drying fields, sampled local seafood, and explored the coastal village landscape, where rows of seaweed were laid out in the sun alongside fishing boats.

The program was organized by Ningbo University and local youth organizations as part of a cultural exchange initiative designed to connect international students with everyday rural life in coastal China.