American participants pose for a group photo. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The 2024 Cultural Exchange Camp for American Chinese Teenagers kicked off on July 3 at the Nantong Vocational University in Jiangsu province.

Thirty young participants from the United States embarked on a journey of discovery through on-site visits, hands-on activities, and cultural exchanges, experiencing the tremendous changes taking place in their ancestral homeland and fostering a deeper sense of pride in Chinese culture.

An American participant shows off her tie-dyeing work. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

This camp is designed to increase American Chinese youths' understanding and sense of connection to their ancestral country, cultivate an interest in learning Chinese language and culture, deepen their affection for Chinese heritage, and encourage them to promote Chinese culture.

Over the course of the 13-day summer camp, Nantong Vocational University has meticulously prepared a rich and exciting cultural feast for them to enjoy.

An American participant tries tie-dyeing. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Apart from experiencing the grandeur of the Yangtze River and the charm of Nantong, also known as the "First Modern City of China", the participants will also get to explore Suzhou in Jiangsu province as well as Shanghai, immersing themselves in the charm of Jiangnan and Shanghai-school culture.

During the activities, the participants will learn Chinese classical poetry, wear hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing), experience woodblock printing and tie-dyeing, appreciate traditional Chinese musical instruments such as erhu and yangqin, as well as experience the spirit of craftsmanship and the essence of Chinese culture.