Opportunity to network

Many members of the team said the 13 days had offered a great opportunity to communicate, network and cooperate with people from different cultures.

Aurore Franche, who is the head of the team's French members, showed a picture of people sitting in a row removing solid mortar from the bricks.

"I like the picture very much," Franche said. "We are here doing the same thing, despite our different cultural backgrounds and languages."

He added that the enthusiasm for protecting cultural heritage is the thing that brings them together and the experience here in Shanxi will be a precious asset in life.

Sara Zuniga from Mexico said this is a great chance for people to learn from each other.

"I've learned a lot of things from our colleagues, who are mostly students of archaeology," Zuniga said. "I'm especially grateful to our Chinese colleagues, who taught me the Chinese language and knowledge about Chinese history."

"I want to bring home all the things I learned here, which should be a useful experience for protecting the cultural relics in Mexico."

Emma Dargere, a student from ENSA Paris-Belleville, a leading architecture college in France, was unanimously recognized by the Chinese craftsmen as the best learner in walling.

"Many thanks to our Chinese tutors," Dargere said. "We've got the best skills training here."

She added that what impressed her the most is that the tutors used a human-centered approach to training. "They taught us how to get along with each other and the importance of sharing."