Some 350 middle school, high school, and university students from across Taiwan have arrived in Tianjin to take part in a winter sports exchange with local college students.
The nearly two-week program includes winter sports activities, visits related to science and technology, and cultural exploration. Organizers say the goal is to encourage exchanges between young people from Tianjin and Taiwan and to foster mutual understanding through shared experiences.
Students from Taiwan take a group photo at the opening ceremony of a winter sports camp in Tianjin. [Photo by Yan Dongjie / chinadaily.com.cn]
Lyu Yanpeng of the Tianjin Taiwan Affairs Office said many young people from Taiwan have become interested in Tianjin and the Chinese mainland through online platforms. The program, he said, offers participants a chance to gain a closer understanding of daily life in Tianjin.
"We firmly believe that this activity will help narrow the psychological gap and strengthen the emotional ties between young people, including university students, from Tianjin and Taiwan," Lyu said.
Huang Chao-yu, a junior majoring in cultural and creative industries at the Taipei University of Education, said the program changed her perceptions of the Chinese mainland. "While learning to ski, I made many friends from the mainland," she said.
Students from Taiwan receive ski instructions during a winter sports camp in Tianjin. [Photo by Yan Dongjie / chinadaily.com.cn]
Huang said the experience increased her interest in local history and culture and encouraged her to learn more about the region. She added that she hopes more students from Taiwan will have opportunities to join similar exchange activities.
Zhai Xiaowen contributed to this story.
