Page 15 - ASEP_EBOOK_V10

Despite the ravages of time and history,
the Temple of Heaven remains a timeless
symbol of China's cosmological beliefs and
cultural resilience, earning its rightful place
as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a
beacon of spiritual
generations to come. As morning turned
into the afternoon, the ASEP 2014 itinerary
continued to the Qianmen cultural area,
colloquially known as Qianmen Street.
Qianmen Street originated
Zhengyangmen Street during the rule of the
Ming and Qing dynasties. In the modern
day, Qianmen Street has reinvented itself
as the prime mecca for shopping and
sightseeing for both the local population
and travelers from all around the world.
Qianmen Street has long been a nexus of
trade, tradition, and culinary delights. As
participants strolled along its storied
cobblestones, they encountered a treasure
trove of time-honored
international boutiques, from the legendary
Quanjude Roast Duck to global icons like
H&M and ZARA. Amidst the hustle and
bustle of modernity, echoes of Beijing's
past reverberated through the streets,
from the savory aromas of traditional
delicacies to the nostalgic charm of
sightseeing trams reminiscent of a bygone
era. As the sun dipped below the horizon,
participants bid farewell to Qianmen Street,
their hearts filled with the timeless allure of
China's cultural heritage and the promise of
new adventures yet to come. In the
evening, the participants gathered for a
group discussion on everything that they
had seen, experienced, and learned during
the past week of exploring China and its
water environment for
presentation on the next day.
ASEP 2014 returned to Tsinghua
University on August 11th yet again for the
grand finale of the 8-day event. The day
began with a series of presentations by all
the participants on
knowledge and new ideas gleaned from all
the past trips all around China. The
students shared what they have learned
from the rich history of Tsinghua Garden,
the lush landscapes of Chengdu's Living
Water Garden, the historic halls of the
reverence for Temple of Heaven, and all of the important
landmarks in China’s effort in improving the
relationship and interplay between water
and humanity. The presentations often
touched on as well on the water-human
as the situations of each of the participants’ home
countries and how environmental
stewardship and sustainable development
are critical internationally. From the
overwhelmingly positive response from
their peers and the board of jury, the ASEP
2014 final presentations by the participants
could be said to be a great success in
achieving its goals of facilitating cross-
boundary dialogue and understanding of
the critical issue of global water
brands and sustainability. Thus, following the
presentations, the participants were
honored for their efforts and achievements.
As the morning drew to a close, ASEP 2014
concluded with a closing ceremony, after
which the participants and accompanying
staff convened for a final lunch reception
held at Tsinghua University. They shared in
the last few moments for socializing and
bidding their farewells. At noon, ASEP 2014
officially ended with a great success as all
the participants departed safely on the
journey back to their home countries, with
memories shared and lessons learned that
would hopefully aid them in becoming the
forerunners of a sustainable and equitable
future in and beyond their communities.
Asian Students Environment Platform
their final (ASEP) 2014 has left an indelible mark on
the hearts and minds of its participants,
illuminating the intricate relationship
between humanity and water and fostering
a deeper understanding of the need for
harmony and stewardship in our
the newfound interactions with the natural world. Through
immersive experiences and thought-
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