Poetic Jiangnan, Reading Zhenjiang
— The 2026 Jiangnan Cultural Tour for La Salle High School of Girona
On the evening of March 27, 2026, the five-day cultural experience activity *Poetic Jiangnan, Reading Zhenjiang — The 2026 Jiangnan Cultural Tour for La Salle High School of Girona, Spain* wrapped up successfully at Jiangsu University. Hosted by the School of Liberal Arts (Language and Culture Center) of Jiangsu University, the event received strong support from organizations including the Zhenjiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Over the packed five-day itinerary, 40 teachers and students from Spain immersed themselves in the distinctive charm of Jiangnan culture, gaining knowledge and forging friendships through a wide array of enriching activities.
On March 23, participants embarked on their journey into traditional Jiangnan culture. During the incense culture session, the instructor introduced the history and connotations of incense art. The Spanish teachers and students handcrafted coil incense themed “Dragon-Horse Spirit”, symbolizing vigour and perseverance. Amid curling delicate fragrance, they savoured the serenity and refinement of Eastern aesthetics. Afterwards came the guqin experience. Under guidance, the group learned about the instrument’s musical ethos of “clarity, harmony, tranquility and grace”, tried plucking the strings and practised basic finger techniques, experiencing the unique appeal of this UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
At Bachaxiang Primary School, the visitors first toured the campus and the Table Tennis Culture Exhibition Hall, learning about the school’s proud legacy as a renowned traditional table tennis school. Then the Spanish group joined local pupils for interactive table tennis activities. In the balance relay challenge, teams raced while balancing balls on paddles, testing coordination and teamwork. At the AI training station, participants explored how technology revitalises sports. In friendly matches, Chinese and Spanish youngsters competed rally by rally on the table, exchanging skills and building bonds. Many participants shared in interviews that table tennis is not merely an entertaining sport, but a cross-cultural bridge that brought them closer to Chinese peers in joy.
On March 24, the group visited Beigu Hill, famed as “the No.1 Landscape under Heaven”. A site of Three Kingdoms heritage, it has long inspired poets through the ages. It was here that Xin Qiji composed his immortal line: *Where do I gaze upon my homeland? All I see is the vista from Beigu Tower*. Climbing the steps to Beigu Tower and gazing out over the mighty Yangtze River, the visitors chanted classical poems under the lead of Professor Ren Xiaofei, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, and experienced firsthand the grandeur and profundity of Chinese poetic culture.
In the time-honoured lanes of Xijin Ferry, the group tried their hand at making the Taiping clay whistle, a Jiangsu Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage. Guided by the inheritor, the Spanish teachers and students shaped lumps of clay into varied forms. They appreciated the simplicity and vitality of folk art, embedding the beautiful blessing of “peace” into their handiwork.
In the afternoon, the group travelled to China Mi Fu Calligraphy Park, a memorial site for the great Song-dynasty calligrapher. Pavilions, terraces and stone inscriptions dot the grounds. The Spanish visitors wandered through the park, admiring Mi Fu’s powerful, bold calligraphic style. During the hands-on session, they learned the ancient rubbing technique: laying paper, applying ink and pressing for an impression. Each step looked simple yet demanded patience and dexterity. When the rice paper was lifted to reveal crisp characters and patterns, the participants expressed delight and admiration for the ingenuity of traditional Chinese crafts.
Throughout this five-day Jiangnan cultural tour, the 40 Spanish teachers and students also visited the Agricultural Machinery Culture Exhibition Hall and the College of Agricultural Engineering at Jiangsu University to discover China’s agricultural heritage and cutting-edge agritech. They visited Chongshi Girls’ School and Mao Yisheng Middle School for in-class exchanges with local students. The group also travelled to Nanjing, strolling along Confucius Temple and Laomen East, sampling Jiangnan delicacies and savouring the glamour of the ancient capital.
These diverse study tours allowed the Spanish visitors to deeply appreciate the profound richness of Jiangnan culture, bringing the programme to a fulfilling close. Many remarked that this experience was unforgettable, and expressed hope that they could return to China and revisit this city famous for its vinegar — Zhenjiang.
