Students experience paper-cutting in Nanjing. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]

Students from the School of Foreign Languages and Cultures at Nanjing Normal University joined international students in exploring Nanjing's streets, cultural venues and businesses this summer holiday, providing language support and cultural guidance along the way.

Their journey into Chinese culture began with language and traditional arts. International students tried playing the erhu for the first time, gradually finding the rhythm under the guidance of instructors. At an intangible cultural heritage museum, they learned to cut paper butterflies.

At the Jiangning Imperial Silk Manufacturing Museum, the immense wooden structure of a Yunjin brocade loom left them fascinated. Learning that mastering the craft can take years or even decades, one international student said, "It's not just clothing, but an entire history."

Cultural exchange continued through a series of engaging hands-on activities. At a Club Med outdoor camp, international students took part in various adventurous pursuits, such as archery, aerial challenges and kayaking, building lasting connections through teamwork and mutual encouragement.

Students visit iFlytek, an intelligent speech and technology company, in Nanjing. [Photo/Yangtze Evening News]

The program also offered a window into modern industries. At Sunyu Transphere, students learned how the language services industry operates, prompting an Algerian student to marvel at how extensively the sector has developed in China. At Original Force, they followed the production process of an animated work from modeling to finished product. AI technologies from iFlytek also impressed the visitors as they repeatedly tested multilingual translation devices.

Through language, culture and industry visits, the summer program gave international students a more vivid understanding of Nanjing.