A group of US students pose for a photo while visiting Jiangsu. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]

Jiangsu province hosted an "American Youth Exchange Program" in 2024 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of China-US diplomatic relations. Throughout the year, 552 middle and primary school students from 30 US states visited Jiangsu, quadrupling the previous year's number and ranking Jiangsu first nationwide in such exchanges.

These young visitors immersed themselves in the beauty of China through activities like learning Mandarin, tasting Chinese cuisine, practicing martial arts, and observing tea ceremonies. They experienced traditional Chinese culture while exploring Jiangsu's vibrant development.

US students visited all 13 cities in Jiangsu and engaged with their Chinese peers in schools, visited enterprises, and toured cultural landmarks, gaining a deeper understanding of modern China.

In Wuxi, students from Los Angeles explored emerging energy and green industries, while another 25 participants observed red-crowned cranes and elks at wetlands in Yancheng. Delaware high-schoolers delved into culinary culture by making Yangzhou fried rice from June 18 to 20. 

Jiangsu's universities also welcomed 647 US college students. An international summer school program hosted 96 students, offering insights into water conservation, new energy vehicles, and traditional Chinese medicine.

Southeast University in Nanjing collaborated with the University of Pennsylvania on an architectural design exchange, while Duke Kunshan University hosted 90 participants from nine US universities for an eight-day cultural immersion program.

Jiangsu's long-standing educational ties with the United States continue to flourish, with 240 schools in Jiangsu having forged partnerships with 160 US institutions. These initiatives deepen cross-cultural understanding and strengthen the foundation for future cooperation.