Chinese and Central Asian students pose for a photo wearing Tang-style costumes. [Photo/WeChat account: njwxzd]

An immersive cultural study tour inspired by the life and poetry of Li Bai brought together international students from Central Asian countries and local young people in Nanjing on April 26.

Widely regarded as one of China's greatest poets, Li Bai also serves as a cultural bridge between China and Central Asia. Born in Suyab, a city in today's Kyrgyzstan, he traveled extensively throughout his life and left behind many celebrated works inspired by Nanjing.

The 4.5-kilometer walking tour connected some of Nanjing's best-known historical landmarks, including the Porcelain Tower site, Yuhua Gate, Laomendong, and Zhonghua Gate Fortress. Participants dressed in Tang-style costumes and took on roles such as Li Bai, Silk Road merchants, innkeepers, scholars, and court ladies from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Through poetry recitations, interactive games, and live reenactments, they experienced the vibrant atmosphere of the ancient city described in Li Bai's verses.

Chinese and international students pose for a photo in Nanjing. [Photo/WeChat account: njwxzd]

During the event, students from Central Asia also shared stories of Li Bai's cultural legacy in Kyrgyzstan, including local memorial sites dedicated to the poet and Kyrgyz-language editions of his poetry collections, giving local residents a glimpse into the poet's enduring international influence.

Lin Zhu, a student from Kyrgyzstan, said the experience deepened her connection with both Li Bai and Nanjing. "Suyab is Li Bai's hometown, while Nanjing was a city he deeply loved. I could truly feel his affection for Jinling (modern-day Nanjing). Every street and building here seems filled with poetry. Li Bai is a shared cultural treasure for both China and Kyrgyzstan, and this event brought our hearts closer together."