Participants pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

Nearly 100 international students from 23 universities across Jiangsu province completed a two-day cultural exploration journey in Wuxi on Oct 11, combining reading with practice and connecting history with modernity.

The event began with a lecture tracing Wuxi's thousand-year cultural heritage from the Grand Canal era to the Taihu Lake era. Students then visited the China National Industry and Commerce Museum to explore the city's rich history of thriving commerce by its waterways. They further delved into the Lihu Lake and sites on water management of Taihu Lake, witnessing firsthand the impressive achievements of Wuxi's water environmental protection.

Participants learn about Wuxi's impressive achievements in water environmental protection. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

Jiangnan University, in collaboration with the Wuxi municipal bureau of water resources, offered lectures and field visits, enabling international students to gain a deeper understanding of Wuxi's successful environmental protection practices.

A Russian student from Jiangsu University was captivated by Wuxi's lush landscapes. "Wuxi has left me a lasting impression. The entire city is adjacent to water, and the people here have made significant efforts to protect it. It exudes a unique Jiangnan charm," she said.

A student shows off the drawing by her group during the Chinese character interaction activity. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

The event also featured a Chinese character interaction activity, where Chinese and international students collaborated to form water-themed characters like "江" (river), "湖" (lake), and "清" (clear) using acrylic pieces.

"Our group's theme was '江' (river). During the activity, we learned how to say 'river' in each other's languages, shared stories about rivers, created drawings with the theme of 'river', and composed short poems. The entire process was very engaging and allowed me to experience the joy of exchange and creation," said an Indonesian student from Nanjing University.