On October 31, four international students from the United States, Morocco, Madagascar and other countries embarked on a study tour to Duchang, Jiangxi Province. They explored the freshwater pearl ecological aquaculture industry and immersed themselves in the unique charm of pearl shell craftsmanship.

The tour began at the Yinshan waters of Nanshan Scenic Area, where the students overlooked the vast grasslands of Poyang Lake and admired the vibrant, picturesque wetland scenery up close. Afterwards, the group travelled to the Pearl Shell Industry Cultural and Creative Study Base in Zhouxi Town. There they learned about the whole process of freshwater pearl farming, intensive processing and cultural product development, gaining an insight into the ingenuity embodied in every pearl shell and pearl.

At the Pohu Star Civilization Ecological Park, the students were introduced to the ecological breeding model of “mussel-fish symbiosis”. They witnessed pearl harvesting from mussels on site and made pearl cultural and creative souvenirs by hand. Through these activities, they understood how Duchang leverages its ecological resources to develop green industries. Hu Die, an international student from the United States, commented: “This study tour showed me how Duchang turns ecological strengths into driving forces for development. Making pearl souvenirs with my own hands also helped me grasp the meaning of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.”