Students use a telescope to observe sunspots and solar prominences up close. [Photo/WeChat account of Rugao High-Tech Industrial Development Zone]

Rucheng sub-district in Rugao has stepped up efforts to organize a series of study tours in collaboration with local primary and secondary schools, offering students immersive, hands-on learning experiences beyond the classroom.

At Guzhuang Ecological Park, first-year students from Rugao No 1 Middle School explored elegant garden landscapes and admired intricate bonsai displays. Under the guidance of professional gardeners, they tried their hands at pruning techniques and took on the role of volunteers, helping maintain the local greenery.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 teachers and students from Anding Primary School visited Qianchang village, where a turfgrass planting base was transformed into a vast open-air classroom. From Bermuda grass to common lawn varieties, students observed various species up close, learning about their characteristics, cultivation methods and the development of the turf industry.

Students from the same school also toured Nantong Schmidt Opto-Electronical Technology, gaining firsthand insight into precision optical manufacturing. During the visit, they explored a telescope museum, observed sunspots and solar prominences, and viewed a wide range of astronomical instruments from China and abroad.

Beyond these highlights, the program includes a wide range of activities. At plant nurseries, students learn planting and transplanting techniques. At a local food company, they explore traditional sauce-making by stirring fermentation vats and discovering how flavors develop. And at a bakery workshop, they watch dough transform into bread while trying their own hand at baking. Outdoor sketching sessions in wheat fields and rapeseed flower areas also encourage students to observe and capture the beauty of spring in their own way.