Young people from cities across the Chinese mainland and Taiwan pose for a group photo during a heritage-themed study tour in Fuzhou on July 22. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Young people from cities across the Chinese mainland and Taiwan took part in a heritage-themed study tour in Fuzhou on July 22, exploring traditional crafts, local cuisine, and cultural traditions while learning about career development and entrepreneurship opportunities in the city.

The program featured hands-on workshops, interactive activities, and sharing sessions, offering participants an engaging introduction to Fuzhou's intangible cultural heritage. Students from universities such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, Tongji University, and Harbin Institute of Technology toured the city before joining the heritage fair.

Guided by intangible cultural heritage inheritors, participants tried lacquer fan making, a traditional craft that uses floating lacquer to create decorative patterns on fans, as well as making paper umbrellas and traditional lanterns. They also sampled local specialties including Fuzhou fish balls and rouyan, dumplings stuffed and wrapped with pork, and explored the city's jasmine tea culture through interactive activities.

Alongside the cultural experiences, interactive presentations and quizzes introduced local policies supporting youth employment and entrepreneurship, giving participants a better understanding of career and startup opportunities in Fuzhou. The program concluded with a showcase of participants' handcrafted works and a sharing session.

"The heritage fair helped me better understand Fuzhou's culture," said Weng Xiaoyang, a student from Tsinghua University. "I'd definitely consider coming back to Fuzhou to work in the future."

More themed study tours focusing on innovation, technology, rural development, and local culture are planned throughout the year.