Opening Ceremony of “Poetic Jiangnan, Reading Zhenjiang” — 2026 Jiangnan Cultural Tour for La Salle High School of Girona
On the morning of March 23, the opening ceremony of the cultural programme Poetic Jiangnan, Reading Zhenjiang — The 2026 Jiangnan Cultural Tour for La Salle High School of Girona, Spain was grandly held in Lecture Hall No.3, Conference Center of Jiangsu University. Hosted by the School of Liberal Arts (Language and Culture Center) of Jiangsu University and strongly supported by institutions including the Zhenjiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the ceremony brought together group leaders and student participants from La Salle High School of Girona, alongside faculty and students of Jiangsu University, to embark on a fascinating journey exploring the charm of Jiangnan culture.
The ceremony was presided over by Ren Xiaofei, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Director of the Language and Culture Center of Jiangsu University. Present at the event were Chen Hong, Vice President of Jiangsu University; Huang Bei, Vice Chairperson of the Zhenjiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Hong Haifeng, Principal of the Spanish Chinese Education Centre; Chen Yuandong, President of Jiangsu University Press; Qu Yunjin, Party Secretary of the School of Liberal Arts; Yu Hongyan, Vice Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Deputy Director of the Language and Culture Center, together with all Spanish participants, staff and student volunteers.
Professor Chen Hong, Vice President of Jiangsu University, delivered a welcome address. On behalf of the university, she extended a warm welcome to the Spanish teachers and students, recalled the profound friendship built through previous collaborations, and introduced Jiangsu University’s open and inclusive educational philosophy and achievements in international exchanges. She expressed the hope that this programme would enable young Spanish visitors to encounter an authentic, multi-dimensional and comprehensive China, gain an in-depth appreciation of the profound heritage and dynamism of Jiangnan culture, foster mutual understanding and friendship through interaction, and inject new momentum into people-to-people exchanges between China and Spain.
Ms. Leonor San Martín, group leader representing La Salle High School of Girona, Spain, delivered a vote of thanks. She voiced great anticipation for China’s history, culture and technological achievements, describing the visit as a valuable learning opportunity as well as a bridge linking Chinese and Spanish cultures. She hoped to deepen cooperation between the two schools and strengthen friendship among young people from both countries. A student representative also took the floor, sharing excitement for the upcoming cultural journey and the wish to acquire knowledge and build friendships through exchanges.
A cultural exchange segment formed a highlight of the ceremony. Chen Yuandong, President of Jiangsu University Press, demonstrated Chinese calligraphy live, conveying cultural warmth through brush and ink and forging ties of friendship between China and Spain. Qu Yunjin, Party Secretary of the School of Liberal Arts, presented the programme flag to the group leader, marking the official launch of the Jiangnan cultural experience tour. Meanwhile, student representatives from La Salle High School of Girona presented a silk banner to the School of Liberal Arts (Language and Culture Center) of Jiangsu University, to express gratitude for the elaborate preparation and warm reception by the host. The inscriptions on the banner embody the deep bond between the two schools and sincere expectations for this exchange initiative.
Following the ceremony, the Spanish participants visited the China Agricultural Machinery Culture Exhibition Hall and the College of Agricultural Engineering. They observed a wide range of agricultural machinery up close and learned about China’s journey in agricultural machinery development from its early beginnings to intelligent modernisation. They spoke highly of Jiangsu University’s outstanding contributions to agricultural modernisation at home and abroad.
Centred on the theme “A Cultural Journey through Poetic Jiangnan”, the programme integrates fine traditional Chinese culture with regional features of the Jiangnan area and includes a rich lineup of cultural experiences and field visits. Participants will visit cultural landmarks such as Xijin Ferry, experience traditional arts and intangible heritage including the guqin and Taiping clay whistles, and visit local secondary schools to discover the richness of Jiangnan and Chinese culture through hands-on practice and cross-cultural dialogue.
