Expats take a group photo at Little Westlake Block in Qinhuai district, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, on Feb 17. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Nanjing, a major city in eastern China, is known as one of the country's six great ancient capitals. After spending a day in the city, 12 foreign guests witnessed remarkable landscapes, dynamic urban areas, the city's unique traditional culture, and the resilience of the Nanjing people.

The launching ceremony of this event was held at the Nanjing International Youth Cultural Center. It was there that the other foreign visitors and I were introduced to the "Go Jiangsu" initiative, which was developed in 2018. Through this initiative, the province has sponsored a multitude of cultural experiences for more than 100 foreign friends; so that they can go on to share their impressions of Jiangsu to the rest of the world through modern social media.

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The first stop on the Nanjing tour was the Nanjing Riverside Park, which comprised of several smaller parks such as the Fish-mouth Wetland Park. We were given a tour of this renovated landmark and learned of its contributions towards national fitness, as well as the adjacent Grade 1 reservoir that serves a major source of drinking water for the city.

The next stop of note was the finished "Memory of Nanhu" revival project. This city block has preserved the essence of how the city was in the 1980s. This allowed us to get a glimpse of what life was like in China as it was beginning to open to the world. We also learned how the people in this area have adapted to modern times, while keeping true to their cultural roots.

Throughout the day, we were introduced to multiple cultural inheritors, such as a paper lantern master in Little Westlake Block. So far, he has shared this cultural heritage in over 50 foreign countries worldwide. The Three Kingdoms village also showcased Nanjing's cultural heritage and allowed us to take part in traditional drum performances, gold leaf moulding, paper-cutting, porcelain painting and other cultural activities.

Song Danfeng (front left) and local residents wave goodbye outside of the women's center in Qinglong community, Jiangning district, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, on Feb 17. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY)

As we moved away from the city, we stopped in the Qinglong community. It was here that we learned of how the farmers worked hard and were then able to renovate their homes into grand villas, which are a striking contrast to the simple green background of the rural landscape. They are a testament to Nanjing's rural vitalization efforts.

The renovated villas are not only private residences, but are also meeting places where local residents can discuss their hobbies or further beautification projects. Other villas were turned into centers that help the community. Song Danfeng, a retired teacher, opened a women's center where women come to improve their skills in painting, dancing and traditional etiquette. The center also provides elderly care and is a free after-school education center for young children.

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The people were what I consider to be the highlight of the tour. The government officials, cultural inheritors and local residents of Nanjing have shown that they are committed to Jiangsu's "people-centered" development model. As they improve their personal livelihoods, they remember to turn back to up-lift others in their community as well.

After touring Nanjing and immersing myself in its culture and community, I feel that it is only right that I bring myself back full-circle to the launching ceremony of this event, where Danny Lingham, a long-term expat from Singapore and the General Manager of Modena by Fraser Nanjing, addressed us all and stated, "Events like this helps foreigners to appreciate Nanjing, and China as a whole."

Mohammed Fadhl Mohammed Al-Zouba, from Yemen, tries his hand at mounting a traditional painting at the Three Kingdoms village, Jiangning district, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province on Feb 17. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)