Participants in the seventh Hong Kong and Macao Secondary School Students' Cultural Heritage Summer Program pose for a group photo with the statue of Zhang Jian at Nantong Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

The seventh Hong Kong and Macao Secondary School Students' Cultural Heritage Summer Program officially kicked off in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Aug 11, with more than 50 students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Jiangsu attending the opening ceremony.

The ceremony featured a special performance of the Kuaibanshu, an oral storytelling art form popular in northern China, titled Zhang Jian Establishes Factories. Sun Xiao, a volunteer from the Nantong Museum, depicted the legendary journey of Zhang Jian (1853-1926), a prominent figure from Nantong and the top scholar of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), who sought to save the nation through industrial development. Zhang not only founded the first modern city in China, Nantong, but also became a timeless model for his remarkable achievements in promoting industry and benefiting his hometown.

Participants were encouraged to become cultural ambassadors by engaging in creative activities such as writing and painting, thereby helping museums better fulfill their social roles.

Following the launch ceremony, the young participants from Hong Kong and Macao will embark on a six-day journey through the cities of Nanjing, Nantong, and Yangzhou. With activities such as practicing traditional skills, exploring traditional culture, and engaging in immersive interactive experiences, the program aims to enhance the participants' understanding of Chinese civilization, strengthen their cultural identity, and promote and preserve the outstanding traditional Chinese culture.