The event was hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and organized by the Jilin Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
The Japan Jilin Chamber of Commerce served as one of the overseas organizing partners, responsible for recruiting participants from Japan. Led by Executive Vice President Akane Morita, the Japanese delegation consisted of nine Chinese youth of Jilin descent, aged 12 to 18, residing in Japan. Together with more than 30 other Chinese youth from the United States, the Netherlands, and Poland, they embarked on a journey across Jilin Province—learning about traditional Chinese culture, exploring local history and customs, and experiencing the vibrant pulse of modern Jilin. It was an unforgettable cross-border journey of cultural discovery and heritage.
At the ceremony, Bao Jiusheng, Party Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, delivered remarks encouraging students to:
Sail with culture as your vessel — be inheritors of Chinese civilization.
Share China’s stories through your own experiences, pass down its cultural legacy, and let the world see a real, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive China.
Build bridges through exchange — be promoters of international friendship.
Respect diverse cultures and values, and foster understanding with an open and inclusive mindset.
Fly with dreams as your wings — be pioneers of national rejuvenation.
Combine personal aspirations with national development, contribute your wisdom to science, culture, and global cooperation, and uphold the belief of “My strength belongs to a strong China.”
He encouraged the campers to make China’s voice stronger and its stories more compelling in the future.
During the program, Ding Zhaoli, Chairwoman of the Jilin Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, visited the participants in Yanji. She encouraged them to take good care of themselves, stay safe, and immerse deeply in learning about the richness of traditional Chinese culture. She hoped they would turn this cultural experience into lasting memories, become young ambassadors of cultural exchange and friendship between China and other countries, and enjoy a rewarding and joyful summer camp experience.
Throughout the camp, participants traveled to several cities across Jilin Province—including Changchun, Jilin City, Tonghua, Yanji, and Helong. They visited numerous landmarks and museums such as the Confucius Temple Museum, Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo, Jilin Meteorite Museum, Jilin City Museum, Former Site Museum of the Jilin Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, Yang Jingyu Martyrs’ Cemetery, Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Memorial Hall, Huinan Anti-Japanese Red Culture Experience Hall, Jilin Provincial Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin Science and Technology Museum, and Yanbian Dinosaur Museum.
They also experienced various aspects of traditional Chinese culture, including hanfu (traditional clothing), paper cutting, tie-dye, shadow puppetry, Baduanjin (a form of qigong), table tennis, and dumpling making.
At the Chinese Korean Ethnic Folk Village, participants learned about the history and cultural traditions of the Korean ethnic group in China, gaining a deeper appreciation of China’s cultural diversity and harmony among its many ethnicities. In Guangdong Village, Helong City, they rode the rice field train, experienced the beauty of rural ecology, learned traditional Korean dance and drum performances, and made signature Korean-Chinese dishes such as kimchi and rice cakes, enjoying both the process and the taste of their handmade food.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War To commemorate this, campers watched historical films, revisited memories of the Northeast Anti-Japanese resistance, and felt the indomitable spirit and profound patriotism of the Chinese people.
During the closing ceremony, representatives from the overseas organizing partners expressed their gratitude to the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Jilin Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. They pledged to continue promoting overseas Chinese language education, guiding young overseas Chinese to learn Chinese and understand traditional culture, tell China’s stories, share China’s voice, and help bring the beauty of Chinese culture to the world.
