98-year-old ZJU alumnus converses in fluent English at West Lake: a living example of lifelong learning

Recently, a video of a 98-year-old Chinese man conversing fluently and naturally in English with foreign tourists by West Lake has drawn widespread attention online. This confident and composed elderly gentleman is ZHOU Panlin, an alumnus of Zhejiang University (ZJU). With an open attitude toward communication, he transcends age and national boundaries, showcasing the vitality of Chinese elders to the world and vividly exemplifying the concept of lifelong learning through his actions.

ZHOU Panlin's deep connection with English began over 70 years ago. In 1948, he was admitted to the Department of Chemistry at ZJU. At that time, specialized studies relied heavily on English textbooks. English gradually became an essential tool for him to acquire knowledge and understand the world, profoundly shaping his subsequent approach to learning and work.

Today, approaching his centennial, he still maintains a strong desire to interact with the outside world. Whenever the weather is fine, ZHOU heads to West Lake to participate in English-speaking activities, actively striking up conversations with tourists from different countries. "I can't just sit at home all day long; I need to come out, meet people, and integrate into society," he says.

He often acts as an unofficial cultural ambassador, enthusiastically introducing the scenery and history of Hangzhou to international friends, building cross-cultural friendships during his leisurely strolls. ZHOU jokingly admits that he likes to grab foreigners for a chat. Once, seeing a foreigner practicing Chinese calligraphy, he took the initiative to walk over and broke the ice with a simple and direct greeting: "Do you speak English?" The person replied, "Yes." The two quickly fell into conversation, which led to the video that later went viral online.

In just a few years, ZHOU has made countless international friends at West Lake. "I recently made a new friend, an airline captain from Denmark. He frequently visits Hangzhou for flight missions, and we even exchanged emails." For several consecutive weeks, the two would meet by West Lake. ZHOU acted as a guide, strolling along the lake with the captain and explaining the scenery and culture of Hangzhou. Deeply moved, the captain specially gifted the elderly man an original English book.

Beyond daily conversations, he has kept up the habit of reading English books since his retirement. He has also participated in various translation projects covering fields such as engineering and technology—experiences that have further deepened his understanding of integrating language with professional expertise.

Regarding language learning, he consistently emphasizes the importance of interest. He believes that only by developing a genuine interest in a language can one find a suitable learning method through continuous practice. By listening, reading, and speaking more, and by communicating in real-life contexts, one's language proficiency will gradually improve.

In ZHOU's eyes, age is never a barrier to learning. He firmly believes that language is not just a communication tool, but a bridge connecting the world; and the greatest driving force for continuous learning stems from pure interest and curiosity about the world. Through his century-spanning life experience, he proves to the world: as long as you maintain your drive to act, it is never too late to start learning.
Source: Zhejiang University Alumni Association
Translator: WU Jingying ('2027, Communication)
Editor: JIANG Chenqi ('2027, Structural Engineering), HAN Xiao