The opening ceremony of the study tour. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

The "Through Foreign Eyes: Embrace the Year of the Horse in Yangzhou" study tour was launched on Jan 12 at the Yangzhou Polytechnic Institute.

Yangzhou, a canal city with a history dating back over 2,500 years, has evolved from an ancient Silk Road junction into a modern player in the Belt and Road Initiative, consistently embracing cultural exchange with openness and inclusiveness.

The dragon dance is performed by international students. [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

Over 20 international students from six countries including Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan participated in the three-day immersive tour, which included traditional cultural experiences, local food tastings, visits to intelligent manufacturing companies, and an exploration of canal culture.

Xue Bing, president of the Yangzhou Polytechnic Institute, expressed hope that the participants would make new friends, expand their knowledge, and become storytellers on behalf of Yangzhou, while also helping to preserve the city's traditional crafts and contributing to future cooperation.

At the opening ceremony, a Pakistani student shared her affection for the city in fluent Chinese, "Yangzhou is not only where I study but also my home in China. I will be sure to tell my family and friends how wonderful Yangzhou is!"

Now in its third year, the study tour has become an important platform for international exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, injecting youthful vitality into Sino-foreign cultural communication.