On the morning of May 15, the opening ceremony of the 2026 "Taste of Jiangnan" Chinese Culinary Experience Camp – Rollins College (USA) Camp was held in our university’s Cross-Cultural Communication Training Room. The ceremony was attended by Huang Yiqin, Dean of the School of International Education; Chen Wei, Deputy Dean of the School of Travel Services Management; Professor Zhang Wenxian and Professor Gu Zheng from Rollins College, USA; and all American student participants. The ceremony was hosted by Shen Zhengjie, a teacher majoring in tour guiding.

At 9 a.m., the ceremony officially began. Shen Zhengjie first introduced the distinguished guests and extended a warm welcome to the American faculty and students.

A student representative from the U.S. shared their interest in Chinese culture and Jiangnan cuisine, expressing anticipation for the hands-on experience courses. Professor Zhang Wenxian thanked our university for its meticulous preparations and encouraged the students to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and serve as youthful envoys of China-U.S. cultural exchange.

During the flag-presenting session, Professor Gu Zheng presented the camp flag to Dean Chen Wei, symbolizing the official launch of the partnership and cultural experience program.

Dean Huang Yiqin delivered a welcome speech. She noted that our university is the only public tourism institution in China jointly established by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the provincial government, with its campus rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The "flavor" in "Taste of Jiangnan," she explained, refers not only to the taste of food but also to the charm of culture. In the coming days, students will experience pottery, calligraphy, and paper-cutting; make Dingfeng Cake and dumplings by hand; and visit West Lake, the Grand Canal, and Longwu Tea Town, where they will engage with the landscapes and cultural wisdom of Jiangnan through immersive exploration. She added that the program is also known as the "Youth Envoy Scholarship Program" and expressed her hope that the students would become witnesses and ambassadors of Sino-American cultural exchange, bringing authentic and warm memories of China back across the Pacific.

The ceremony concluded with warm applause. The two-week camp will focus on skill-based experiences, cultural visits, and youth dialogues, helping American students gain a deep appreciation of Jiangnan’s cultural heritage and build bridges of understanding between Chinese and American youth through cuisine and friendship.