By Dang Mai Phuong
Deputy Head of English Section-VOV World of Voice of Vietnam, Vietnam
There’s a saying: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Similarly, the dialogue between civilizations begins with the smallest of observations—a shared cup of tea, a woven textile, or even a single leaf whether it is a tea leaf in a Lushan Tea House or a small leaf in the Lushan Botanical Garden.
Jiujiang, a picturesque city along the Yangtze River in Jiangxi Province, embodies a rare harmony between modernity, nature, and culture. Unlike many rapidly urbanizing cities where skyscrapers dominate at the expense of green spaces, Jiujiang has preserved its natural beauty while embracing development. Its lush mountains, serene lakes, and historic temples coexist seamlessly with modern infrastructure, creating a model of sustainable living. Having visited Jiujiang for the first time, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Journalism Forum, I was struck by how deeply human civilization is intertwined with nature and culture. I’m so impressed by how the city balances progress with tradition, offering valuable lessons for urban planning and cultural preservation worldwide.
The city, nestled beside Poyang Lake and shadowed by the misty peaks of Lushan Mountain, embodies a harmony that transcends borders. Here, even a small leaf tells a story, one of resilience, exchange, and mutual growth.
In Jiujiang, tea is more than a drink, it is a living artifact of cultural exchange. The region is famous with Lushan Yunwu tea, grown in the mountain’s cloud-kissed slopes. A small green tea leaf in a tiny tea house on the Lushan mountain seems to embrace the essence of civilization dialogue between the ancient history of tea culture and today’s growing tea popularity. When we appreciate the story of a single leaf, we begin to understand the interconnectedness of our world.
Jiujiang’s landscape is a testament to China’s deep reverence for nature. The poetic beauty of Lushan Mountain has inspired painters and poets for millennia, while Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, sustains both biodiversity and human livelihoods.
The balance between human activity and nature offers a crucial lesson for global development. The dialogue between civilizations is the one about how communities like those in Jiujiang have thrived without exhausting their environment. If we listen, even the rustling leaves have wisdom to share like we heard in the stories told by a guide at the Lushan Botanical Garden. Every leaf, every tree, like humans, wants to grow toward the sunlight, adapting with the surrounding environment to live in peace, said the guide.
As journalists, we are storytellers and in Jiujiang, I witnessed how shared stories can build bridges.
“Even a small leaf has a story,” and every story is a thread in the fabric of human civilization.
If we approach civilization dialogue with curiosity and respect, we can ensure that the story it tells is one of shared prosperity, sustainability, and peace.
The leaf has been passed to us. What story will we write next?
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.