On March 3, Spain Girona La Salle High School’s Cultural Tour in Jiangnan area, China commenced at the Second Lecture Hall of the Conference Center at Jiangsu University (JSU). A group of 21 students and 2 teachers from Spain's Girona La Salle High School gathered at JSU to embark on a cross-border cultural exchange journey.

The event was jointly organized by the School of Liberal Arts (Language and Culture Center) of JSU and Spain's Girona La Salle High School, with the collaboration of the Spanish Chinese Education Center and received guidance from the Zhenjiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Vice President of JSU Prof. Chen Hong attended the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Director of the Language and Culture Center Prof. Ren Xiaofei.

During the ceremony, Vice President Chen delivered a speech, briefly introducing the history and distinctive disciplines of JSU, with a particular emphasis on the university's strengths in international education. She highlighted the efforts and achievements of JSU in Chinese language education. She noted that in 2023, the Spanish Chinese Education Center organized over 10 overseas Chinese youths to JSU. And now, two years later, more than 20 students have traveled thousands of miles to JSU. This not only deepens past collaborations but also vividly exemplifies the educational exchange between China and Spain.

Vice Principal of Girona La Salle High School Leonor San Martín, spoke as the teacher representative, expressing gratitude to the School of Liberal Arts (Language and Culture Center) for the meticulous planning and organization of the study tour. She also shared her two daughters' admiration for Chinese language and culture. Ales, a student representative, expressed in Chinese the younger generation's strong interest in the Chinese language and culture.

The event also featured a calligraphy demonstration by President of Jiangsu University Press Chen Yuandong, who presented the calligraphy work 天道酬勤 (Chinese Characters meaning “God helps those who help themselves” to Girona La Salle High School. The ink on paper not only carries JSU's appreciation and blessings for international friendship but also symbolizes the profound heritage and bright future of cultural exchange between China and Spain.

Following the opening ceremony, the participants visited the JSU History Museum, the China Agricultural Machinery Culture Exhibition Hall, and the National Pump Engineering Center.

This exchange activity closely integrates the regional characteristics of Zhenjiang with the excellent traditional Chinese culture, offering a series of rich and diverse cultural experience courses for the participants. These include learning and practicing intangible cultural heritage and traditional skills such as Song Dynasty tea art, guqin (ancient zither) music, Taiping clay whistles, and Chinese painting. Additionally, the participants will visit historical and cultural sites such as the ancient Jinshan Temple, the White Snake Legend Cultural Park, the China Vinegar Culture Museum, and the Confucius Temple cultural district in Nanjing, immersing themselves in the historical depth and cultural charm of Jiangnan area, China.