Before any formal programs existed, Sunny hoped to bring people from one of the world’s most international campuses to her hometown in Lüliang. The aim was clear: allow students to experience China not through tourism, but through community, families, and real conversations.
With no roadmap to follow, InHe China explored local partnerships in China, though none led to sustainable collaboration. The turning point came when the SOAS Students’ Union agreed to share the opportunity in its weekly newsletter—support that made the first step possible.
More than 40 students responded.
Sunny met each of them individually, and through mutual selection, nearly nine volunteer participants were confirmed. The interest and curiosity from the SOAS community made the concept feel immediately viable.
During this preparation period, Sunny also reached out to SOAS professors who cared about China and cross-cultural learning.
This is when she first connected with Professor Song Lianyi.
His guidance shaped InHe China’s understanding of responsible cultural exchange—how to design it, how to prepare students, and how to build meaningful dialogue. This mentorship continued for years and played a significant role in shaping InHe China’s later work.
With volunteers confirmed, InHe China drafted a full cultural-exchange itinerary for Lüliang, scheduled for summer 2020.
The plan included:
The project had moved all the way to the visa preparation stage.
Everything was ready to begin.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel just weeks before departure.
The program was postponed indefinitely.
Although it never launched, the attempt itself became a defining moment—proof that interest existed, that a community was willing to come, and that InHe China’s mission had real foundation.
The blueprint created in early 2020 continues to guide InHe China today.
The principles formed during this attempt—homestays, school dialogues, community integration, and meeting people as equals—remain central to the organization’s work.
This project became the root of InHe China’s long-term vision:
to build cultural exchange grounded in sincerity, everyday life, and genuine human connection.
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