Summer camp participants show off calligraphy works from the organizers at the launch ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A summer camp themed on Chinese culture commenced at Nantong Vocational University in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Aug 6, with 36 overseas Chinese teenagers and teachers from Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands taking part.

Wang Xiaohong, an official of the Nantong municipal government, extended a warm welcome to all participants at the launch ceremony. "May this journey in Nantong become a vibrant and unforgettable memory for everyone," she said. She also expects participants to share their experiences in China with their friends, raising Nantong's and China's international profiles promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

Qiang Yi, Party secretary of NTVU, discussed the university's development and offered an overview of the summer camp curriculum. He emphasized that NTVU attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation, actively takes part in the Belt and Road Initiative, and promotes internationalization in education.

According to Qiang, the university has been hosting the summer camp program since 2019 to help overseas Chinese teenagers better understand Chinese culture and offer them unforgettable memories.

Participants of the launch ceremony pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the 10-day summer camp, these campers will learn about Shen embroidery, appreciate ancient Chinese poetry, practice Chinese martial arts, ride bicycles, visit museums, make banyao kites, and wear hanfu, along with other activities, to experience traditional Chinese culture and cultivate deep-rooted friendships.

To date, NTVU has established cooperative relationships with more than 20 universities and educational institutions in countries such as Canada and the United States and has set up overseas vocational education centers in Indonesia and Namibia. These achievements demonstrate the university's firm commitment to open education and international exchanges, laying a solid foundation for the hosting of this summer camp.