Middle school students from Hong Kong pose for a photo in Nantong. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

Middle school students from Hong Kong completed their five-day cultural visit to Nantong, Jiangsu province on July 3.

From admiring the beautiful scenery along Haohe River to experiencing modern industries in industrial parks to wandering around the Binjiang area of the Five Mountains area, the experience showcased the city's many charms and rich culture.

Zhang Shenci, executive vice-chairman of the Nantong Fellow Association in Hong Kong, said that the group not only witnessed the harmonious coexistence between nature and humans in the city, but also a blend between traditional culture and modern civilization.

Middle school students from Hong Kong pose for a photo in the Binjiang area of the Five Mountains area in Nantong. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

On June 29, the HK students visited their first stop – the Zhang Jian Youth Activity Center where they learned the story of Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a renowned patriot, industrial magnate, educator, and philanthropist in Nantong through photos, videos, and artifacts.

Yu Qianyi, one of the middle school students, said that she used to read stories about Zhang and found herself taken away by his charisma.

In 2007, Nantong authorities launched a program with the Nantong Fellow Association in Hong Kong to invite Nantong students to visit HK, while in 2023 the first group of students and teachers from HK visited Nantong, marking the start of mutual visits between the two cities.