A group of 25 young people from Padova, Italy, a friendship city of Guangzhou, visited Guangzhou recently. Serving as "young ambassadors", they are bringing authentic, dynamic stories of China back home to Italy.                                                          

They stepped into the historical Chi Song Gong and Daling villages and experienced their rich cultural charm. At Chi Song Gong, the ancient architecture hushed the group into quiet reflection. In Daling village - Guangzhou's first nationally recognized historic village - time seemed to slow as they tread polished bluestone paths. Strolling along the oyster-shell walls of the village, the young Italians immersed themselves in Lingnan's heritage.

At the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) Technology Museum, sleek new energy vehicles and smart-driving tech instantly grabbed everyone's attention. Cutting-edge automotive innovations gave them a taste of the speed and brilliance of "Made-in-China" intelligence.

Young Italians visit the GAC Technology Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]

This trip was made possible by the Confucius Institute at the University of Padova - the result of the partnership between Guangzhou University and the University of Padova. Since Guangzhou and Padova became friendship cities in 2017, cooperation in innovation, education, and cultural preservation has deepened.

As an ancient Maritime Silk Road hub, Guangzhou shares a special bond with Italy. It has now partnered with five Italian cities - Bari, Milan, Genoa, Padova, and Turin - all working to strengthen China-Italy ties.