Youth from Northeast Asia Took Cultural-experiencing Trip at Huishan Ancient Town

Huishan Ancient Town of Wuxi, east China’s Jiangsu Province, is a typical water town in Jiangnan region, which features small bridges over flowing streams and houses built with white walls and grey tiles. The Chinese and foreign students participating in the Northeast Asia Youth Camp on Sustainable Development (NAYCSD) 2022 visited Huishan Ancient Town on September 18. Accompanied by chirping of birds and cicadas, this group of young people had a deep conversation with the time-honored water town on the stone-paved banks.

NAYCSD participants take a photo at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo by Chen Xiaoyu]

Located in the western suburb of Wuxi City, Huishan Ancient Town Scenic Area covers an area of 3.5 square kilometers, with its core area being 1.09 square kilometers. There are more than 200 scenic spots, of which 23 units and 44 sites are recognized as cultural relics protection spots of or above municipal level.

The best season to visit Huishan Ancient Town is autumn, and the best autumn scenery of the town is offered by Jichang Garden.

Jichang Garden, sitting between Xi Mountain and Hui Mountain, is one of the best-preserved private gardens in Jiangnan region (a geographic area to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River). NAYCSD participants experienced Diancha, a tea-making ceremony dating back to Song Dynasty, at the garden.

Foreign students of NAYCSD take a photo in Han-style clothing. [Photo by Chen Xiaoyu]

The young students also learned to make clay figurines at Huishan Clay Figurines Workshop. Under the careful guidance of the teacher, these gifted learners managed to turn pieces of black clay into vivid tigers with their hands.

A Korean student presents the clay figurine made by her. [Photo by Chen Xiaoyu]

Zhang Xiaoyang from Indonesia was reluctant to leave Huishan Ancient Town. "I viewed beautiful scenery and made lots of new friends. The town also witnessed many of my 'firsts'. I will share the culture I learned here with my friends, letting them know the charm of Jiangsu," said Zhang.