On April 9, Lixia district in Jinan, Shandong province, launched its ''Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Global Connections'' event, welcoming 13 Kenyan students from the 2025 Confucius Institute Short-Term Study Program at Shandong Normal University and Kenyatta University. The event bridged cultures through hands-on experiences of three traditional crafts: cloisonné enamel art, Lyu-style incense-making, and spring-water tie-dyeing.

At the tie-dye workshop, artisan Li Jie guided students through the process of folding and binding white fabric before dipping it into indigo dye made from natural herbs. As the cloth was unwrapped, flowing blue-and-white patterns emerged, symbolizing Jinan's famous springs.

During the incense-making session, Lyu Xuangui introduced ingredients like mugwort and wormwood. Students blended, ground, and wrapped herbs into sachets while learning about the practice's 2,000-year history.

Meanwhile, Zhou Rongrong, a master of cloisonné, led students in shaping gold wires into intricate patterns and filling them with enamel—a technique used during imperial times.

Hosted by the Lixia ICH Protection Center, the event showcased Lixia's commitment to global cultural exchange, turning traditional crafts into shared memories and reinforcing its role as a bridge connecting international heritage.