A group of 20 students from Taiwan visit "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition in Beijing Exhibition Center on November 11, 2022. Photo: Lou Kang/GT

Inside a special exhibition hall in Beijing presenting the achievements of Central China's Henan Province, a student from Taiwan took a close look with excitement at a Paotong Guqin, a local string instrument made of Paulownia wood. "There are always countless cultural heritage items that surprise you," said the postgraduate, who is now studying in Beijing.

The exhibition themed "Forging Ahead in the New Era" has been hosting visitors since late September, and a group of 20 students from the island of Taiwan paid a visit on Friday. The two-hour long visit included a whole view of the achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the past 10 years, from the technology results in space, such as the lunar soil sample brought back by Chang'e-5, to the efforts made in poverty alleviation in the past few years, and the achievements in fighting against the COVID-19 epidemic. The exhibition also shows specialties of each province and region of China.

A group of 20 students from Taiwan visit "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition in Beijing Exhibition Center on November 11, 2022. Photo: Lou Kang/GT

The "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition opened on September 27 demonstrating theoretical guidance in the new era and displaying the hard work of the general public as well.

For the students, the visit gave them a great chance to see an all-around view of the country, while the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island of Taiwan have relentlessly blocked and even introduced bans on cross-Straits activities.

"It is impressive to see so many achievements made by our country, and you can see it here all at once in such a huge venue," another Peking University student from Taiwan told the Global Times.

"I first came to the mainland years ago for a two-month exchange and I saw more opportunities in both life and in business. That was why I chose to come back for further education," said a student from Kaohsiung who is majoring in education.

"In the future I want to seek more opportunities here in Beijing after I graduate, and hopefully I will start my own business with my friends here," he added.

Since opening, the exhibition has hosted a lot of visitors and hundreds of journalists from both home and abroad.

A student from Taiwan looks up at photos in a visit to "Forging Ahead in the New Era" exhibition in Beijing Exhibition Center on November 11, 2022. Photo: Lou Kang/GT

The exhibition, held at the Beijing Exhibition Center and covering a total area of over 30,000 square meters, is divided into six parts: the preface, central exhibition, local exhibitions presenting the special achievements in all provinces and regions, an outlook, an open area and the interaction area for visitors.

The whole exhibition displays over 6,000 objects including paintings and photos recording the life of Chinese people, and models such as aerial platforms and drones, and an ecological monitoring system, presenting a multi-dimensional display of the glorious past decade.

Other highlights include a 3D electronic map presenting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and their achievements in science, innovation and infrastructure construction.