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Expats discover Nantong with 'Go Jiangsu' event

Updated: Sep 24, 2021 en.nantong.gov.cn Print
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The group poses for a photograph at the Qidong Blue Calico Art Museum in Qidong, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on Sept 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A group of nine expats participated in the "Go Jiangsu" Social Media Trip for Foreigners in Nantong, which is known as the birthplace of the national industry in modern China, from Sept 13 to 14.

A girl from Iran tries to thread a needle and practices traditional embroidery during the Go Jiangsu trip. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

During their two-day trip, the group from countries of Italy, Japan, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico got to check out the traditional culture of Nantong in East China's Jiangsu province, and learn about its modernization efforts.

Following their arrival in Qidong, a county-level city of Nantong, the foreigners were treated to local musical and tea art performances, experienced the local art technique of Qidong printmaking, and were presented with a blue calico scarf as a souvenir.

An expat member of the Go Jiangsu trip to Nantong looks gorgeous as she wears a red traditional Chinese costume. She takes pictures to record her experience on Sept 14, while standing in front of blue calico, a local traditional textile. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Qidong is hailed as "home of blue calico in China". This technique has a history of more than 1,000 years.

While wearing hanfu, a traditional Chinese costume, Mexican expats on the Go Jiangsu trip pretend they are actors in an ancient Chinese drama. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Mukesh Mohanan, an Indian visual designer, said he was deeply impressed by the ancient art form and that he would adopt its designs into his graphic works.

One of the expats tries Qidong printmaking in Qidong, Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on Sept 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Expats dressed in traditional Han costumes pose for a selfie in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on Sept 14. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On the first day of the trip, the foreigners also visited companies in the Nantong National High-tech Industrial Development Zone where they learned about the development of the advanced manufacturing industry in the city.

"I took a lot of photos, but I think the photos can't describe the meaning of the culture of the city," said Javanmardi Ehsan, an Iranian professor. "I think the city can be a symbol of culture of Jiangsu."

On the second day, the expats visited Nantong Museum, the first public museum founded by Chinese people, and learned about the merits of its founder Zhang Jian, who was an industrial magnate and scholar in modern China.

Under the instruction of a professional embroiderer, a member of the Go Jiangsu trip to Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, experiences the traditional technique first-hand on Sept 14. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]
Expats wearing hanfu for the first time try out a traditional Chinese greeting during the Go Jiangsu trip. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

The expats also dressed up in traditional Han costumes and tried their hands at making Nantong-style embroidery and playing the guqin, a seven-string traditional Chinese instrument.

An expat from Iran plays the guqin, a seven-stringed traditional Chinese instrument, during a “Go Jiangsu” trip in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province on Sept 14. Go Jiangsu is a brand event co-organized by Jiangsu province and China Daily with the aim of letting more expats experience the culture of the eastern Chinese province. [Photo by Feng Qian/chinadaily.com.cn]

"Go Jiangsu" is a brand event co-organized by Jiangsu province and China Daily with the aim of letting more expats experience the culture of the eastern Chinese province. Since 2018, more than 100 foreigners have participated in the activity.

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