Cao Qingyue, the teacher of the course, demonstrated a difficult whistle technique that drew applause from the students. According to public information, Cao is a top whistling artist who has won several awards in international competitions. Photo: Qingdao Technology University

 university in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, recently prompted a great deal of debate among netizens after it opened an elective course teaching the art of whistling. Some expressed envy, while others questioned whether it should even be something taught at university.

A video circulating online taken by students shows a teacher teaching an elective course called "whistling art" in a classroom at Qingdao University of Science and Technology on March 15. Cao Qingyue, the teacher of the course, demonstrated a difficult whistle technique that drew applause from the students. According to public information, Cao is a top whistling artist who has won several awards in international competitions.

The video sparked a great deal of discussion among netizens on China's Twitter-like platform Sino Weibo. Some people said they really liked this interesting course and said they hoped they could learn whistling when they went to college.

Others wondered about the significance of offering whistling courses in university.

"It's just a trick taught in community interest classes. Students don't go to college to learn recreational items like this," wrote another netizen.

Global Times