"Shared beauty is more than a concept–it's the message I hope my painting conveys."

That's how 16-year-old Lu (Lü) Yingyu, a Gen Z artist from Manila, introduces her work. Raised in a multicultural environment, Lu turns to her paintbrush to express the harmony between Chinese and Filipino cultures: From the elegance of Peking Opera and classical poetry to the vibrancy of Filipino dances and traditional dishes, her artwork is a vivid tapestry where the two cultures shine side by side–growing closer with every stroke.

Bridging cultures: Lu Yingyu's painting shines with enthusiasm. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

A student at the Philippine Cultural College Caloocan Campus in Metro Manila, Lu has been immersed in a trilingual learning environment–Chinese, English and Filipino–since her childhood.

"I'm truly grateful for the education I've received here," she says.

"Beyond language learning, we get to explore diverse cultures and make friends from all walks of life through a variety of school activities," she adds.

Public speaking contests, drama performances and other creative events encourage students to express themselves with confidence.

"Every time I step on stage, I feel like I've grown a little more," Lu declares.

Lu has an interest and love for Chinese culture. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

Lu's love for the Chinese language extends beyond the classroom and into her writing. In the Chinese Creative Writing Competition, her piece called Longing in the Fields painted a tender portrait of rural life and homesickness.

"My mom is from Fujian and we visit my grandparents there every year," she recalls. "My grandpa's garden is small, but everything he grows smells amazing."

She also spoke of a local Fujian tradition that captured her imagination:

"On the eighth day of the fifth lunar month, we eat jian dui–glutinous rice balls–to honor the goddess Nüwa who mended the sky. I found that image really powerful."

To Lu, the charm of Chinese culture goes far beyond its ancient roots.

"Today, it's more youthful and relatable, especially here in the Philippines–whether it's TikTok, Xiaohongshu, or Chinese pop music."

She and her friends scroll through short videos, laugh at trending memes and follow the daily lives of young people in China through social media.

"We Gen Z tend to learn about a country not from textbooks, but from our feeds," she explains.

Though she has never lived in China, elements of Chinese culture have quietly become part of her everyday life. She enjoys classical Chinese poetry, loves traditional folk songs and is deeply drawn to the country's cultural confidence.

"To me, China is a place that's both traditional and modern, deep and open," Lu enthuses.

Looking ahead, she hopes to share this vision of China with more Filipino friends–through her art, her writing, or even short videos.

"Both Chinese and Filipino cultures are beautiful," she says with a smile. "Through my creations, I want more people to see and feel this shared beauty."