Beyond the textbook

More than knowledge

Hou Xin, a 21-year-old philosophy student at Xiamen University (XMU) in Fujian province, feels that universities are increasingly attuned to students' needs. "University education now focuses on developing our overall abilities, such as life skills and emotional management, not just academic knowledge," she said.

In her third year, Hou finally secured a spot in XMU's popular tree-climbing course during the first semester of 2024 — a class she had been eager to join since her freshman year but had always missed out on due to its high demand.

Introduced in 2012, the course was the first of its kind among universities on the Chinese mainland.

Every Wednesday morning from 8 to 10 during the semester, Hou and her classmates gathered in the campus' mango tree grove for class. Students worked in pairs, with one climbing while the other held the rope to ensure safety.

Hou cherished the peaceful moments spent in the trees, where she could unwind and watch ants crawling along the branches.

"It's so refreshing to start my day with sunshine and morning mist, rather than a stuffy classroom," Hou said. "This activity helps me connect with myself, nature, and the spirit of teamwork."

She added that the course isn't about climbing as high or as fast as possible but about enjoying the experience.