Photo:Xinhua

Nearly 60 young people from the island of Taiwan have embarked on a cultural exchange journey in South China's Guangdong Province, in an effort to explore the intangible cultural heritage of the Chinese mainland, immerse themselves in the local rich culture and experience the high-quality development achievements of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The program, taking place from October 19 to 23, will include three cities: Foshan, Jiangmen, and Zhaoqing.

The opening ceremony featured captivating performances by Foshan's intangible cultural heritage inheritors, including paper-cutting, Cantonese Opera and drum dancing. 

Ding Xifeng, member of the Standing Committee of the Foshan Municipal Party Committee, highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between Foshan and Taiwan during the opening ceremony on Thursday. 

He also encouraged the participating youth from the island of Taiwan to share their experiences and invite more of their peers to Foshan, fostering greater understanding and collaboration.

The itinerary for the participants in Foshan includes visits to the Foshan ancestral temple, Xiqiao Mountain and a local exhibition hall. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience Foshan's local intangible cultural treasures, such as martial arts, lion dancing, pottery, and cuisine.

Following their time in Foshan, the group will travel to Jiangmen, to explore historical sites like Chikan Ancient Town and the Sihui jade market. In Zhaoqing, they will visit the local Zongzi Factory to learn about the art of making traditional glutinous rice dumplings.

This event is part of a larger series of events launched by Guangdong Province since 2014, with the aim to promote cross-Straits exchanges between young people and foster greater integration and development between Guangdong Province and the island of Taiwan. 

This year's event offers eight different routes for participants, covering various aspects of culture, including rural revitalization, maritime silk road culture, and intangible cultural heritage.