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Participants in the "Discover Jiangsu" international summer program get together for the first time in Wuxi. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

The "Discover Jiangsu" summer program at Jiangnan University in Wuxi was an unforgettable two-week experience. The program offered an immersive look into Chinese culture and history, led by knowledgeable professors at JUN who shared valuable insights about the history and culture of Jiangnan.

I was very interested to learn about the role of the 1,000-year-old Grand Canal in the development of Wuxi as a time-honoured hub for commerce and transportation that continues to this day. Ms Yang from JNU taught us that by the 19th century, Wuxi had evolved into a prominent center for the rice, cloth, money, and silk trade, attracting merchants from far and wide. After this historical context, we were able to observe Wuxi's modern commercial growth as we visited two highly successful companies in Wuxi: Jabil, a manufacturing solutions provider, and Seagate, a global leader in data storage. I found it very interesting to learn about Wuxi as a capital of commerce from both a historic and contemporary perspective.

Participants in the "Discover Jiangsu" international summer program pose for a group photo at Seagate. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

We also attended a lecture about Chinese tea culture. During the lecture, we learned about different varieties of Chinese tea, the history of tea in China, and traditional techniques for serving tea. We were invited to taste various types of tea and observe their flavor differences. My favorite was the white tea varieties. The teacher also explained the different kinds of teapots used for preparing tea and how the shapes and materials of the teapot can affect the flavor. I was interested in learning about a teapot unique to Jiangsu province called the Yixing clay teapot. Dating back to the 15th century, the Yixing clay teapot is made from clay produced near Yixing. In the afternoon, we took a class about the history of the Grand Canal. I was intrigued to learn that the canal's history spans over 2,500 years, with its most significant expansion occurring during the Sui Dynasty (581-618) under Emperor Yang Guang. The instructor provided valuable insights into not only the history of the structures along the canal but also how the canal influenced the traditions, customs, and lifestyles of the locals living along the canals.

We also had an exciting day trip in Wuxi. First, we went to the Wuxi Studios, a former steel mill in Wuxi's Binhu district that is now a high-tech film studio with ambitions to become the Hollywood of China. I enjoyed exploring the different film sets, especially the traditional Chinese film sets featuring majestic ancient Chinese palace interiors. I'd love to see what kinds of films were produced here and how they bring ancient history to life.

Fleur Rennie Jackson (second from left) and other participants in the program pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

After our trip to the Wuxi Studios, we visited the Wuxi Museum. I was so excited to see all the ancient relics and artworks from Wuxi that the lecturers had taught us about, such as the Yixing purple clay teapots and the Huishan clay figurines.

After our trip to the museum, my friends and I went to Nanchang street, one of the ancient streets in Wuxi along the Grand Canal. Today, it is filled with many stalls selling Wuxi's specialty foods such as the sanxian wonton, a type of wonton dumpling filled with meat, prawns, and pickled vegetables, served in a broth full of tofu shreds. My friends and I had a great time strolling around the street and trying Wuxi's traditional delicacies. My favorite local delicacy was the tangyutou, a dessert made from taro and osmanthus flowers.

The "Discover Jiangsu" summer program was such a wonderful insight into Chinese history, culture, and the history and culture of Wuxi. I made many meaningful friendships and found it to be an unforgettable experience. I will cherish the memories I made at JNU while participating in this program.

The author, hailing from Australia, is a student at Deakin University and participated in the 2025 "Discover Jiangsu" international summer program in Wuxi this July.

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