The Collegiate Immersion Bootcamp for U.S.-based Institutions recently kicked off in east China's Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, drawing participants from eight American universities.
Throughout the week-long bootcamp, 90 teachers and students will take part in a variety of activities in Jiangsu's multiple cities. Students will also engage in lectures and seminars, sharing insights on global concerns from a younger perspective.
"I really like this program because it does allow these newer generations, these younger faces to see different aspects of everything. And that's really important because it harvests these people-to-people connections, and we get to see how other people think and then use those to create these new ideas for the future," said Linden, an American college student.
In addition to academic engagements, students have enjoyed diverse cultural activities and field visits, experiencing the charm of the province's ancient water towns.
"I've always been very interested in Chinese culture and Chinese history. I have loved it even as we are walking around. I've always been focused on the food and the architecture. And that's what I know about the most. So, this has been one of the best trips I've ever been on. China has been an incredible place to visit, and we are only seeing a small part of the country. But I can imagine that there's so much more culture, history, and interesting parts to explore. So, it's definitely worth coming out here and taking a look," said Kyle, another student participant.
The bootcamp, aimed at fostering mutual understanding and people-to-people connections between China and the U.S., is part of China’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years, which was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco on November 2023.
U.S. students savor a week of cultural exchange in Jiangsu Province
U.S. students savor a week of cultural exchange in Jiangsu Province
Villages and towns across China have leveraged their ecological, cultural and historical advantages to promote tourism as part of their efforts to advance rural revitalization.
In Liming Ancient Village, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rapeseed flowers are in full bloom.
The combination of the golden sea of flowers and the traditional residential houses has attracted many tourists to the village.
Visitors stroll along the paths lined with blooming flowers, or ride a mini train through the rapeseed fields, to get pleasure from the spring season.
"It is very comfortable to ride trains shuttling through the rapeseed flowers. Spring is in the air," said Liu Dan, a tourist.
"Residential houses in Liming Ancient Village are well-arranged and clean, and the rapeseed flowers are beautiful," said Yang Yongsheng, another tourist.
In Gongzhuang Village, north China's Hebei Province, apricot trees are in full bloom along the Great Wall.
The coupling of the natural beauty and the ancient wonder has become a popular photo spot.
"In addition to seeing apricot blossoms, tourists can also climb the Great Wall. People can not only explore the history, but also view spring flowers blooming all over the mountains. It is really a rare experience," said Yang Yongsheng, a tourist.
In recent years, Gongzhuang Village has transformed itself into a popular tourist destination during the spring season by taking advantage of apricots and other natural resources, and improved its living environment.
"We work to make more people know the natural beauty of Gongzhuang, thereby driving up the business of the catering, accommodation and other industries in the village. We also use festivals to showcase the village's traditional culture and folk customs, so as to help promote agricultural products, and boost rural tourism," said Feng Mingxiao, secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) branch at Gongzhuang Village.
During the ongoing three-day Qingming Festival holiday, Wanglinpo Village, east China's Shandong Province, has welcomed more than 10,000 vacationers each day, as it offers them a chance to connect with the past in a meaningful way.
The village not only recreates scenes of an old Chinese village, where corn cobs are hung out to dry in bundles and stone grinders are used, but also enables visitors to experience more than 10 traditional folk crafts.
"I was born in the 2000s. I have never seen this kind of traditional craft before, and I don't know the production process. This experience is very novel, allowing me to learn a lot about traditional folk crafts. It is very interesting," said Wang Zengrui, a tourist.
About one year ago, old houses were seen everywhere which had been idle for many years.
The CPC branch at Wanglinpo Village has used the houses to recreate traditional agricultural life, not only providing villagers with an extra source of income, but also attracting urban dwellers to experience rural life, traditional crafts, and traditional culture. "We have decorated and renovated old houses while maintaining its traditional appearance. Our purpose is to spark feelings of nostalgia amongst tourists who stroll around the old houses and streets," said Wang Hongjun, secretary of CPC branch at Wanglinpo Village.
Also during the Qingming Festival holiday, Baoan Town, central China's Hubei Province, has entertained travelers with nighttime performances.
The show displays local customs and culture in 16 fascinating settings, which integrate peach blossoms, where the town is famous for, and advanced stage lighting. "I often watch videos about the performance, and I have always wanted to experience it in person. After seeing the show on-site, I feel that I want to see it again," said a tourist.
The village's efforts have partly paid off.
During the three-day holiday, it received nearly 10,000 tourists a day, generating daily revenue of more than 700,000 yuan (about 96,311.25 U.S. dollars).
China promotes village tourism to advance rural revitalization
