Pudong academy provides valuable experience to those ready to serve, Yang Feiyue reports.

Er Dongqiang was giving a lecture to a group of special students at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong in Shanghai in mid-June.

The professional photographer, who is also director of the Shanghai Association of Historians, shared tales of his journey along the Silk Road with a classroom of government officials from across the country.

"I used to love watching sailboats along the Huangpu River, and I dreamed of traveling the world when I was growing up," Er says.

His dreams have come true and he has set sail to many places over the years.

"I feel that in the wide area of the South China Sea, Chinese culture is a huge presence," he says.

Er shared details of his journeys across Eurasia, into countries along the Silk Road since 2000, with the class, as well tales of embarking on a trip in an unpowered sailboat in 2013 to countries along the Maritime Silk Road.

"I have been to many ports, where there are many old captains and their boats, as well as their endless attractive and adventurous stories," Er says.

"I hope there will be a Chinese captain in the future to tell the Chinese stories."

Er has accumulated a number of valuable documents and a great deal of knowledge about the Belt and Road, taking delight in sharing his experiences, and gladly accepting an invitation by the Pudong academy.