International students visit farmlands in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]

From May 18-19, "Reading Zhenjiang", part of the 2024 "Reading Jiangsu" program, took place with a focus on rural revitalization in Zhenjiang. Over 130 international students from 31 countries studying at 19 universities across Jiangsu province took part in the event.

During the event, students visited the Jurong Modern Agriculture Exhibition Hall as well as high-standard croplands and smart farms in Baisha village. They gained insights into how Jurong, a county-level city in Zhenjiang, leverages local resources to adjust its agricultural structure and achieve modernization. The students also enjoyed hands-on experiences in mushroom harvesting and planting.

At the demonstration field in Baisha village, Ren Xiaofei, dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Jiangsu University, told international students how poetry from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) incorporated agriculture. The students participated in poetry recitations and interactive quizzes, enriching their understanding of Chinese literature and agriculture.

Wang Limin, a Party official of the Overseas Education College at Jiangsu University, delivered a lecture on tea culture, after which the students visited the Jiangsu Tea Expo Park, where they experienced the entire process of tea picking, production, and tasting.

International students experience tea picking in Zhenjiang. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]