In the vibrant days of midsummer July, along the verdant banks of the Ganjiang River, youthful energy ran high. From July 5 to 16, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (JUFE) successfully hosted the 2026 “Discover Jiangxi” International Summer School.

Over 110 international students from 25 countries—including the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Korea, Romania, and Vietnam—joined more than 100 Chinese peers in Nanchang. During the 12-day program, participants witnessed firsthand the achievements of Chinese modernization, immersed themselves in the unique charm of Ganpo culture, and captured the vibrant spirit of this "Hero City" through their footsteps and hearts, leaving an indelible mark of youth upon this summer.

On campus, a series of lectures and workshops facilitated deep cross-cultural understanding through vibrant intellectual exchanges. The cross-cultural workshop titled Opportunities and Mutual Learning in Chinese Modernization offered multifaceted perspectives on China’s contemporary development path. Courses such as Traditional Chinese Thought and Culture and Chinese Culture through Film vividly showcased the profundity of Chinese civilization. Meanwhile, the International Culture and Linguistic Anthropology workshop served as an academic bridge for intercultural dialogue. In sessions including Ganpo Glory: Jiangxi’s Traditional Medicine and Wellness, International Comparative Perspectives on Higher Education, and China and the World on AI, Chinese and international campers engaged in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge topics. These academic exchanges allowed participants to perceive a China where tradition and modernity shine together.

The cultural immersion segment offered participants an intimate encounter with the beauty of China’s intangible cultural heritage. In calligraphy classes, the rhythm of Eastern aesthetics flowed through brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. During the dough figurine workshop, vivid folk art characters took shape under nimble fingers. As night fell, the practice fields for Tai Chi Fan and Tai Chi Sword, alongside Chinese martial arts demonstrations, became living classrooms where students grasped the Oriental philosophical wisdom of “harmony between Yin and Yang” through every deliberate movement. Meanwhile, ice-breaking activities sparked deep interactions, swiftly bridging the emotional distance between youths from diverse backgrounds. Amid peals of laughter, the seeds of friendship quietly took root.

Venturing beyond the campus, the participants embarked on a cultural odyssey through Jiangxi that bridged the past and the present. At the Tengwang Pavilion, Chinese and international youths ascended to admire the panoramic views while reciting the timeless masterpiece Preface to the Tengwang Pavilion. Immersed in the poetic imagery of “a lone wild goose flying with the sunset clouds; the autumn waters blending with the boundless sky,” they sensed the profound cultural pulse of this ancient Nanchang city. At the Nanchang Haihunhou Kingdom Ruins Museum, over ten thousand Han Dynasty artifacts served as veritable “time capsules,” offering the group a rare glimpse into a glorious civilization dating back over two millennia.

Corporate visits highlighted the dynamic vitality of Jiangxi’s industrial growth. Amidst the delicate fragrance at Lin’en Tea, young guests from around the globe savored the time-honored elegance of Chinese tea culture. At the Lidu Site of the Yuan Dynasty Distillery, participants wandered among aromatic fermentation pits, tracing the long and storied lineage of ancient Chinese brewing craftsmanship.

In Jingdezhen, the millennial “Porcelain Capital,” a magnificent scroll of ceramic civilization unfurled before the participants. At the Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum, 50,000 artifacts—ranging from the unadorned pottery of the Neolithic Age to the peerless treasures of the Ming and Qing imperial kilns—wove together a three-dimensional history of Chinese craftsmanship. At the Hongye State Porcelain Gallery, students did more than just view modern ceramic masterpieces; they stepped up to the potter’s wheel and tried their hand at underglaze painting, leaving their own creative imprints on plain porcelain blanks. As night fell over the Taoxichuan Cultural and Creative District, traditional porcelain art fused seamlessly with digital technology, showcasing to the world how the “Porcelain Capital” is embracing openness to script a new chapter in the innovative development of traditional culture.

In Huangling, Wuyuan—hailed as “China’s Most Beautiful Village”—participants wandered through historic bluestone alleys. There, they not only marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of Huizhou-style architecture’s “Three Carvings” (wood, brick, and stone) but also witnessed firsthand the vibrant practices of traditional village preservation and rural revitalization. At the ancient town of Xian’gao, immersive intangible cultural heritage performances—including the mesmerizing Fish Lantern Parade and the Fire Pot show—allowed the group to deeply experience the unique charm of Ganpo folk traditions.

On the morning of July 16, the closing ceremony of the International Summer School was held at the Jiaojiao Garden Campus of JUFE. During the event, the university presented completion certificates to all Chinese and international participants, honored outstanding volunteers with awards, and conferred “International Exchange Ambassador”certificates upon those who had demonstrated exceptional cross-cultural communication skills and actively promoted Ganpo culture.   

As Vice President Yuan Honglin envisioned at the opening ceremony, the participants have become deep experiencers of Chinese culture, active ambassadors for civilizational exchange, and builders of transnational friendships. They measured Jiangxi’s landscapes with their footsteps, felt the profound depth of Chinese civilization with their hearts, and embodied the exchange philosophy of “cherishing beauty shared by all and promoting mutual connectivity among civilizations”. Reflecting on her experience at the closing ceremony, Greeshma Salin from Coventry University, UK, remarked, “These 12 days have shown me a real, multi-dimensional, and diverse China. The friendships I’ve made and the memories I’ve created here will stay with me for a lifetime”.

The closing ceremony was attended by heads of various university departments, including the Publicity Department of the CPC JUFE Committee, the Student Affairs Division, the University Youth League Committee, the Academic Affairs Office, and the Graduate School. Also present were deans and representatives from the School of Statistics and Data Science, the School of Public Administration, the School of Software and Internet of Things Engineering, the School of Design and Art, and the School of Foreign Languages.

The successful conclusion of this International Summer School marks another milestone in JUFE’ ongoing efforts to build a high-impact brand for people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Looking ahead, JUFE will continue to expand channels for talent mobility with universities worldwide and create more platforms for civilizational dialogue. Through these initiatives, the university aims to amplify Jiangxi’s voice on the global stage and contribute youthful energy to fostering mutual learning between civilizations and building a community with a shared future for mankind.