BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A spontaneous trend of "textbook relay" among young Chinese travelers and overseas Chinese students has gone viral on social media since the beginning of this year, as growing numbers of Chinese youth turn memories of knowledge in the textbook into shareable moments in their real journeys in front of global cultural landmarks.

For generations of Chinese students, covers on and illustrations in textbooks have long been their first windows to faraway world-famous sites, from the Big Ben in London, the Louvre Museum in Paris, to the Great Sphinx in Giza and the Colosseum in Rome. As cross-border travel has become increasingly accessible to Chinese young people in recent years, millions are now seizing the chance to visit these landmarks in person, bridging the gap between textbook knowledge and real-life experience.

A set of widely-recognized tips is voluntarily followed during the textbook relay. One participant hides a textbook at the scenic site and shares the spot on social platforms, and the next Chinese traveler who finds the book will match its cover and corresponding text with the actual scene, pose for some snapshots, then carefully place the book back for the next participant to continue the relay. Some travelers may also leave handwritten notes on the blank pages, some of which carry inspiring thoughts: "You can truly understand the world only after you have seen it with your own eyes." "The places I learned from books have now become the roads I walk on." "Measure the world with your own feet, and turn the unknown into real knowledge." "The world is vast, and may we all enjoy our journey." These simple yet powerful lines turn an ordinary textbook into a far-reaching spiritual tie that connects Chinese young people thousands of miles apart.

This grassroots movement has exemplified an old Chinese saying: "Reading ten thousand books is the same as traveling ten thousand miles." It offers a vivid look at how today's young Chinese engage with global civilizations -- with curiosity, mutual respect, and open-hearted vitality all their own.

Planner: Wang Jianhua

Coordinator: Wang Qingqin

Journalists: Li Ying, Wang Kaiyan, Wu Huiwo, Xin Mengchen, Li Ga, Gao Jing, Ahmad Kamal, Alberto Lingria

Editors: Wu Rong, Wang Siwei, Han Xiaoyu, Chu Jiayin, Cui Bowen

Designers: Wang Siwei, Han Xiaoyu