Expats show the Chinese-style combs they made during a visit to Qingguo Lane in Changzhou on June 22. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The group also got to tour Qingguo Lane, a historical and cultural area home to residential communities typical of the canal that runs south of the Yangtze River.

A session was then held where a local craftsperson taught everyone how to make a traditional wooden comb, which is an intangible cultural heritage of Changzhou. It was an experience that most of them had never had before and helped them to better understand Jiangsu's fascinating culture.

"It was amazing to witness a combination of ancient culture and modern lifestyles in the cities, I really appreciated it," said Ambra, a PR and marketing expert working in Shanghai.

Many of the expats commented on the unique expressway rest area and the cities' ancient cultures during the two-day trip.

"I have learnt about Suzhou and Changzhou on our Chinese culture course. But on this trip I gained practical knowledge and enjoyed it so much. It was very impressive!" said Al Mahmud Suruj, a Bangladeshi student from Yangzhou University.

Gershon Rodor, a Ghanaian student from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics also shared his feelings: "Yes....an awesome trip. It's refreshing to explore the beauty and intangible culture of Suzhou and Changzhou. Hope we can have a trip like this every week."

The "Go Jiangsu" series of trips are organized by China Daily and the Information Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government to promote the province to an international audience. A total of 14 events have been held since 2018.