Four international students from Shanghai University's School of Journalism and Communication recently traded the classroom for the countryside. They traveled to Dongzhuang Village in Anhui Province's Shitai County to take part in a social practice program built around rural revitalization. The students walked through the fields, stepped into a local livestreaming studio, and went in front of the camera to promote selenium-rich agricultural products—using their own voices and perspectives to tell the story of rural China to a wider audience.

 

Into the Fields

The students' first stop in Dongzhuang Village was the selenium-rich farming base, where a local agricultural technician walked them through the area's unique soil conditions and the growing cycle of its signature products—selenium-infused tea and rice.

One of the students, Pham Thanh Thanh from Vietnam, said the landscape alone felt like "a healing experience." She was drawn to the rural environment and the modern farming methods on display, and she kept pulling out her phone to capture the scenery.

 Into the Livestream Studio

The highlight of the visit came at the village's "Beautiful Countryside" livestreaming studio, where the four students—Pham Khanh Vi, Au Hoang Bao Tran, Pham Thanh Thanh, and DobyChina Kseniia—took their places in front of the camera. They quickly picked up the essentials of livestream sales: the right phrases to use, how to highlight each product's selling points, and how to keep the audience engaged. They took to it naturally.

"Hi everyone, I'm an international student from Shanghai University... today I want to recommend this selenium-rich rice from Anhui—it's healthy and delicious!" Their Chinese was far from perfect, but their warmth and smiles easily connected with the viewers. The chat box filled with likes and comments as the audience responded to their earnest, cheerful pitch.

 After the Cameras Stopped

After the livestream, the students shared their thoughts on the experience. Pham Khanh Vi from Vietnam said: "I'd never done anything like this before. It felt so new and special. Through a livestream, you can let people know about the products of a small village—not just people in other cities, but in other countries too."

The others echoed her feelings. They admitted to feeling nervous, but said the excitement far outweighed it. Social media and livestreaming are universal now, they noted, and this was a chance to try something that's reshaping retail everywhere. "If we get another opportunity," they said, "we'll come better prepared and do an even better job."

 

After the Cameras Stopped

After the livestream, the students shared their thoughts on the experience. Pham Khanh Vi from Vietnam said: "I'd never done anything like this before. It felt so new and special. Through a livestream, you can let people know about the products of a small village—not just people in other cities, but in other countries too."

The others echoed her feelings. They admitted to feeling nervous, but said the excitement far outweighed it. Social media and livestreaming are universal now, they noted, and this was a chance to try something that's reshaping retail everywhere. "If we get another opportunity," they said, "we'll come better prepared and do an even better job."

Telling China's story from an international perspective is something Shanghai University's international students have been exploring for a while. This trip was another step in that direction. For them, it was more than just a novelty—it was a hands-on lesson in what rural China looks like today. They got to try a new form of e-commerce, and they saw for themselves the changes taking place in the countryside under the rural revitalization strategy. Through livestreaming and a bit of salesmanship, they found themselves acting as bridges between cultures—sharing a small corner of rural China with audiences far beyond.

Technology and agriculture, livestreaming and the countryside—they don't always go together. But here, they did. And the students' cameras captured something real: a traditional village finding its footing in a digital age.

Source: Shanghai University