From July 5 to 18, 2025, 25 young envoys from the United States gathered at Wuxi University of Technology to participate in the two-week "Inheritance and Innovation – Wuyue Culture Journey" summer camp.
At the opening ceremony, the head of the school of International Education briefly introduced the university's basic profile and the summer camp's featured activities. She encouraged the participants to set aside unfamiliarity and distance, embrace an open and inclusive mindset, actively engage in various activities, and fully experience the profoundness of Chinese culture as well as Wuxi's unique charm. On behalf of the students' parents, Mr. Cen Zhicheng, the summer camp leader, expressed sincere gratitude to the university for organizing the event. He urged the students to cherish the opportunity to learn Chinese and experience Chinese culture, fully immerse themselves in the activities, make new friends, and broaden their horizons. Valerie, the student representative of the summer camp, shared her strong interest in China and Wuxi, expressing confidence that the two-week stay in Wuxi would be unforgettable, enjoyable and rewarding. Together with Anson, she received the camp flag from Secretary Li Xiang of the School of International Education, marking the official launch of the summer camp. Teachers also presented opening gifts to each participant. Representatives of Chinese language teachers and Chinese students performed beautiful pipa music and songs, earning rounds of applause from the audience.
As a construction unit of China's "Double High-Level Plan" (a national initiative to develop high-level vocational colleges and majors), Wuxi University of Technology has always adhered to the concept of open education. It is committed to building platforms for international exchange and cooperation to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning. For this summer camp, the university carefully designed a series of rich and colorful activities. Participants visited historical sites and learned traditional crafts, gaining an immersive experience of Chinese traditions and the millennia-old cultural heritage. They also toured practical training bases and industrial enterprises in smart manufacturing, the Internet of Things, and new energy vehicles, getting a close-up look at cutting-edge technologies and understanding the practical achievements of Chinese vocational education in technological innovation. In addition, cross-city and cross-university exchange activities were held, allowing the youth to gain a deeper understanding of the scale and characteristics of universities in the Wuyue region. They also had the opportunity to interact in-depth with local students, share their study and life experiences, and build cross-border friendships.
On the afternoon of July 17, the closing ceremony was held in Room 1106 of Chongde Building. Secretary Li Xiang delivered a speech, noting that the summer camp was not only a journey of exploring culture and knowledge but also a bridge to enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship between Chinese and American youth. She hoped the participants would take back their experiences, insights and feelings from Wuxi to the United States, act as envoys for China-U.S. cultural exchange, and help more people understand a real, multi-dimensional and comprehensive China. Hu Xun summarized the summer camp activities, reviewing the wonderful moments through a series of photos and video clips, and highly praised the participants' earnest learning attitude during the camp. The campers also voluntarily shared their various gains from the unforgettable two-week journey. Later, Secretary Li Xiang awarded graduation certificates and souvenirs to all participants. Valerie returned the summer camp flag to Secretary Li, bringing the event to a successful conclusion.
This summer camp enabled the participants to see and experience China – a country they had previously only read about in books. It planted the seed of "understanding China" in their hearts and promoted educational exchange and cultural mutual understanding between China and the United States.
Opening Ceremony
Opening Ceremony
Event Site
Event Site
Event Site
Closing Ceremony
