On Dec 20, a showcase event for foreign students participating in the "Reading Jiangsu" program was held at the Nanjing University of the Arts, marking the successful conclusion of the six-month-long activity.

The "Reading Jiangsu" program participants take a group photo on stage. [Photo/jyt.jiangsu.gov.cn]

This year's "Reading Jiangsu" program saw 74 universities across Jiangsu province participating, welcoming nearly 600 international students from 73 countries to explore the cities of Huai'an, Zhenjiang, Changzhou, and Yancheng.

During their journey, participants enjoyed the unique allure of Jiangsu, gaining more knowledge of its ancient canal culture, rural vitalization, green ecology, and intelligent manufacturing.

A new addition to this year's program was "I am a Jiangsu Storyteller", which motivated students to become cultural ambassadors, sharing their observations, experiences, and feelings about Jiangsu on social media platforms. By engaging international students in activities like reading Jiangsu-related books, visiting historical sites, and participating in cultural activities, the program encouraged them to narrate authentic and vivid Jiangsu stories from their unique perspectives, fostering further exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures.

During the showcase event, Trabucco Brycechristine, an American student from Jiangsu Normal University, expressed his fascination with martial arts and calligraphy, talking about how these traditional Chinese cultural gems have had a positive impact on him.

Phung Thi Thuong, a student from Vietnam at Soochow University, shared her study tour stories and travel experiences in Jiangsu on YouTube, aiming to let more people understand the real Jiangsu and China beyond.

The "Reading Jiangsu" program, initiated in 2023, has become a flagship event for educating foreign students to learn more about Jiangsu, encompassing its profound history and culture alongside the significant economic and social development changes it has undergone.