To inherit the cultural roots and unite team spirit, the company carefully planned a three-day 2025 annual cultural tour for all employees in Leicester from July 18th to 20th. By visiting cultural landmarks such as Jiang’s former residence in Xikou, Tianyi Pavilion in Ningbo, and Lu Xun’s hometown in Shaoxing, employees can touch the historical temperature while walking and deepen team bonds through resonance. This is not only a reward for employees’ hard work, but also a vivid practice of using culture as a link to build team cohesion.
Day 1: Poetic Charm of Shaoxing, Encountering Literature and Love
At Fuzhou Railway Station in the early morning, colleagues greeted each other with hopeful smiles. During the pre assembly time, some helped to check their tickets, while others picked up their luggage for their companions. In the busy schedule before departure, the warmth of the team was already evident. The scenery outside the window flows, and there is constant laughter inside the car. The over 4-hour drive seems to be fleeting.
In the afternoon, the cicada chirping in Shenyuan seemed to have lowered its volume. In this famous garden of the Song Dynasty, the winding cobblestone road, pavilions and water pavilions complement each other, and the tour guide softly tells the poignant love story between Lu You and Tang Wan. When reading the line “Red crispy hands, yellow wine” in “Hairpin Phoenix”, the usually cheerful male colleagues couldn’t help but stop, while the female colleagues who love literature whispered the melancholy in the poem. Everyone took a group photo in front of the monument, hoping to freeze this deep affection that has lasted for thousands of years. Originally, even the most busy daily life requires such poetic nourishment.
Then we went to the birthplace of literary giants – the hometown of Lu Xun, which is the literary homeland that nourishes spiritual strength. In front of the Xianheng Hotel, the statue of Kong Yiji is vivid and lifelike. Walking into the Hundred Grass Garden, the vegetable beds, stone well railings, and mulberry trees still have their former appearance, reminiscent of the carefree time of young Lu Xun here. In the Sanwei Bookstore, the desk engraved with the word “early” stands quietly, with a square layout and antique book case that still echoes with the recitation of “Zhi Hu Zhe Ye”. The self-discipline aspirations set by young Lu Xun here can still inspire people even after a hundred years. Many colleagues stopped in front of the inscription “Facing a thousand hands with a cold expression, bowing their heads willingly as a young ox”, feeling Lu Xun’s responsibility to use his pen as a blade and speak up for the people. As we look back at history, our spiritual world has undergone a profound baptism and sublimation.
As night fell and after checking into the hotel, many colleagues were still unsatisfied and went on a night tour of Cangqiao Straight Street. This ancient street preserves the traditional style of a water town in Jiangnan. The bluestone road winds forward, flanked by white walled and black tiled houses and rows of shops. The warm light of lanterns shines on the gurgling water, creating a gentle halo. Everyone strolled in groups of three or five, some picking souvenirs at handmade jewelry stores, some stopping to listen to street performers playing Yue opera tunes, some sitting in tea houses by the river chatting, feeling the tranquility and comfort of the ancient city at night, and the exhaustion of the day gradually dissipating in this leisurely atmosphere.
Day 2: Water town charm, immerse yourself in Ke Yan and ancient towns
After breakfast the next day, the team went to the Ke Yan Jian Lake Lu Town Scenic Area. This 4A level scenic spot combines mountains, waters, wetlands, and ancient town charm, and can be regarded as the culmination of Jiangnan scenery. In the scenic area, the magnificent rocks and caves formed by quarrying since the Three Kingdoms period are magnificent. Among them, the “Cloud Bone” peculiar stone is over 30 meters high, with a bottom as thin as a pen but standing firm, which amazed everyone; The Tiangong Giant Buddha is carved along the mountain, with a kind face, witnessing the changes of thousands of years.
Strolling through the Jianhu Scenic Area, the scenery of Wubu Yue Bridge, Huluzui Island, and Ancient Silk Road unfolds one after another, making people feel relaxed and happy. Everyone took a group photo on the white jade embankment, taking in the panoramic view of the lake and mountains. Subsequently, the team took a painting boat to Lu Town, with rippling waters and picturesque scenery on both sides.
In Lu Town, besides live performances such as “Xianglin Sister Seeks Ah Mao” and “Ah Q Rebels”, the most anticipated is the social drama performance. The social opera performance in Luzhen was brilliantly staged in the scenic theater. The performance revolves around Lu Xun’s literary works and is divided into three chapters: “Memories of Water Towns,” “Various Forms of the Market,” and “Light of Spirit.” It cleverly connects scenes from classic works such as “Blessings,” “The True Story of Ah Q,” and “Kong Yiji. The interaction of “Kong Yiji teasing children” is hilarious, the tragedy of “Xianglin Sao searching for Ah Mao” is tear jerking, and the image of “Lu Xun” and classic poetry are presented in the ending. The stage background instantly changes from a hundred years of Chinese history, the lights flicker, and the sound effects are magnificent, as if placing people in that turbulent era, deeply feeling the power of Lu Xun’s words and the greatness of his spirit, making many people present red eyed and immersed in the plot, unable to extricate themselves for a long time.
After watching the social drama, the group arrived at Anchang Ancient Town. This ancient town with a history of thousands of years, with ancient streets built along the river, staggered arcade buildings, and winding and deep stone alleyways, exudes a quaint charm everywhere. Everyone can freely stroll among them, watch local craftsmen make sauce ducks and sausages, and learn about the story of Master Shaoxing in the Folk Museum.
Day 3: Echoes of History, Appreciating Books and Former Residences
The last day’s itinerary starts from the Jiang Family Residence in Xikou. The majesty of Wuling Gate, the elegance of Wenchang Pavilion, the simplicity of Fenghao House, and the Xikou Old Street that witnessed the ups and downs of the Republic of China allow everyone to shuttle through the long river of history. Colleagues listened to the tour guide explain the story of the Jiang family while marveling at the changes of the times. Some discussed old commercial culture in front of Yutai Salt Shop, while others stopped in front of old photos in Wuling Square. The weight of history gave the entire team a sense of calm reflection.
The Tianyi Pavilion in the afternoon is a time soaked in the fragrance of books. This is the oldest library in Asia, which houses the lifelong efforts of Fan Qin. The ancient books and bookshelves are filled with the fragrance of ink for thousands of years. The stone tablets in the Mingzhou Stele Forest record the history of ancient education, and the architecture of the Qin Clan Ancestral Hall showcases the characteristics of Ningbo’s residential buildings. Even the various mahjong tiles in the mahjong exhibition hall have become a hot topic of discussion. So there are so many intricacies to mahjong! “Exclaimed the young colleagues, while the older colleagues stood in front of the ancient books for a long time, feeling the essence of” book collection of ancient and modern “.
Gathering strength through literature, moving towards a new direction
This three-day cultural tour of Jiangnan is a humanistic dialogue that transcends time and space, and also a team practice that focuses on unity and cohesion. From the millennium poetic charm of Shenyuan to the literary resonance of Lu Xun’s hometown, from the shock of social opera in Keyanlu Town to the warmth of the streets in Anchang Ancient Town, from the historical smoke and dust of Xikou’s former residence to the literary heritage of Tianyi Pavilion, every scenery carries the thickness of culture, and every journey of travel embodies the warmth of the team.
Looking back on our journey, we not only gained a panoramic view and a heart full of joy, but also realized that the growth of a team is like the cultural heritage of Jiangnan, which requires individuals to be as resilient and upright as “cloud bones”, as well as each other to work together like painting boats on a lake. In the future, let us carry the wisdom drawn from culture and the strength gained from our peers, and transform the emotions of our journey into the driving force of our work. With closer collaboration and fuller enthusiasm, we will shine in our respective positions and jointly write a new chapter in the development of the company – so that every step forward is as solid as the classics of Tianyi Pavilion, and as steady as the voyage of a black boat, heading towards a wider world, working together towards a new journey.
Post time: Jul-21-2025