International students pose for a group selfie at the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center. [Photo/Guanhai News]

Nearly 100 international students from more than 10 universities in Qingdao explored the city's industrial innovation, cultural heritage, and rural development during a study tour on Nov 2.

Organized by the Qingdao education bureau, the tour brought together students from over 20 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

The group first visited the Qingdao SCODA Pearl International Expo Center, where they learned about economic and cultural cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework.

At Yihai Kerry's food processing facility in Qingdao, students toured automated production facilities and gained firsthand insights into modern food manufacturing.

In Caojiazhuang village in Jiaozhou, students tried Jiaozhou yangge, a traditional folk dance, practiced Sanpu Longquan, a local form of Chinese martial arts, and learned about local intangible cultural heritage.

The tour concluded at the Silk Road Eternal Love cultural tourism complex, where an immersive performance highlighted the Maritime Silk Road’s history and cultural exchange.

A Ghanaian postgraduate student at Shandong University of Science and Technology, who has lived in Qingdao for three years, praised the city's welcoming atmosphere and cultural diversity.

Through the experience, students gained fresh perspectives on Qingdao and opportunities to share the city's stories with audiences worldwide.