Taking Notes to Create a Cultural Bond

Songs help German language students develop a deeper understanding of China.

▲Representatives of the Chinese Choir at the Burg in Germany perform with their Chinese counterparts at a concert held in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, in April 2024. The choir is committed to enhancing the Sino-German friendship. CHINA DAILY

In the heart of Dortmund, Germany, a city famed for its soccer culture and industrial legacy, something quietly transformative is unfolding within the walls of Leibniz Gymnasium, a local middle school.

On the fourth day of the Chinese New Year, more than 50 German students, most of whom have never set foot in China, watched a screen in amazement as high-tech humanoid robots performed an intricate kung fu-themed dance during China's Spring Festival Gala.

The viewing of the gala was organized by Zhang Yungang, a teacher of both Chinese and English at the school, as a small celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Zhang, who is also the director of Chinese studies at teacher training centers in the country's North Rhine-Westphalia region, said he wanted to give students a deeper, more personal connection to Chinese culture.

In the classroom, there was a lively atmosphere as the students watched dazzling performances, traditional Chinese cultural displays and the robotic dance spectacular.

The event didn't end with the gala, though. The students moved between interactive activity stations that included writing couplets, paper cutting, mahjong and carving Chinese wax seals, but perhaps the most exciting part of the day was learning Chinese New Year songs.

With the guidance of a vocal teacher from the Chinese Choir at the Burg, the students — regardless of their Chinese language ability — eagerly joined in the singing of Hao Yun Lai, or "Good Luck Is Coming".

"Singing in Chinese is completely different from speaking," said Zhang, the choir's founder and director. "The tones are especially hard to grasp, but singing actually makes it easier to remember."

Zhang added: "When the German high school students picked up chopsticks, played mahjong and sang Chinese songs, the distance between them and Chinese culture no longer existed solely in textbooks and on screens. It became a tangible, real experience."

The Chinese Choir at the Burg was established in 2014, when Zhang launched an educational initiative that sought to teach German students the Chinese language. While the students initially learned Chinese to broaden their linguistic horizons, the choir soon evolved into something much more profound.

Through music, these young learners not only mastered pronunciation and vocabulary, but also developed a deeper appreciation for the culture behind the language.

Singing in Chinese introduced the students to the complexities of the language's tones, something that textbooks struggle to convey.

The choir's repertoire spans a wide range of songs, mixing traditional Chinese folk songs with contemporary pieces. The songs were carefully chosen for both their musical beauty and the cultural stories they tell. One of the very first songs the choir performed was Let Us Sway Twin Oars, a song from the 1955 Chinese film Flowers of Our Motherland.

When the choir visited China in 2014, they performed the song at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. When they returned in 2024, to mark their 10th anniversary, they performed the same song again, this time for a new generation of Chinese students. In the summer of 2025, the choir, now consisting of more than 80 members, embarked on a 14-day cultural exchange trip to China. The experience deepened the students' fascination with China's rich history, culture and traditions.

Some students even expressed their desire to travel back to China or pursue Chinese studies at university.

During their visit to Beijing, the choir explored iconic landmarks such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, gaining a greater understanding of China's heritage.

One choir member, Joshua Hahnel, noted, "This is already my fourth time coming to China, and I can feel the country's increasing efforts to strengthen the preservation and protection of its culture."

Another chorister, Lisa Wagner, said the journey opened a window into the Chinese way of life: "Through Chinese songs, I have learned how Chinese people celebrate their unique cultural festivals. It has brought me closer to the country in ways I never imagined."

In the spring of 2024, Sichuan People's Publishing House learned that several members of the choir had been writing about their experiences in China, using their limited but heartfelt Chinese.

The students wrote about everything from the Chinese capital's smoky breakfast stalls and the country's stunning landscapes, to the speed of China's development.

After a series of conversations with Zhang, the publisher saw an opportunity to turn these personal accounts into a cultural invitation — a book that would offer a fresh, authentic perspective on China through the eyes of foreign students.

"Our goal is to create a bond connecting young people from both nations," said Huang Lixin, president of the publishing house.

Harmony in Foreign Keys: Decoding China Through Music was released in Chinese, English and German in 2025, offering readers a chance to see China through the eyes of young Europeans.

As Petra Schnell-Kloppel, the honorary chairman of the choir, put it: The choir is a living testament to the power of music to connect people across cultures.

What started as a simple language-learning project has blossomed into a cross-cultural exchange that transcends borders.

Through songs, these German students have come to understand and appreciate a culture that once seemed distant, while at the same time, China's rich musical and cultural heritage has found a home in their hearts.