A brush with history

Foreign students experience depth of Chinese culture through calligraphy, Cai Hong reports.

Every Wednesday afternoon, Le Duc An, a Vietnamese PhD student at Beijing University of Technology, practices what he says is a way to elevate his "mind, body and spirit".

The 33-year-old has been studying Chinese calligraphy for nearly three years at the campus calligraphy club.

"Chinese calligraphy has not only helped me cultivate qualities of patience, care and perseverance, it has also helped me learn significantly more about China, especially its culture," An says.