A foreign student from the School of International Exchange at Ningbo University learns to paint fish during a trip to Qiangjiao town in Ningbo's Ninghai county on March 20. [Photo/Kan Ninghai App]

More than 40 students and teachers from the School of International Exchange at Ningbo University embarked on a trip to Qiangjiao town in Ningbo's Ninghai county on March 20.

The students, who were from over 20 countries and regions, visited a marine biological museum and a fishery culture display pavilion and were captivated by the local fishery culture after trying to make fish carvings, boat models, and paintings.

They were also given a water tour around the Qingjiao islands and a night's stay in homestays for free.

On the same day, Qiangjiao town was designated as an international education base for Ningbo University.

As a coastal town, Qiangjiao has prominent strengths in sectors including deep-sea tourism and circular economy, making it an ideal place for the school to carry out scientific research, innovation as well as achievement commercialization, said Yan Feng, vice president of the School of International Exchange at Ningbo University,

He added that he hoped that the two sides would strengthen their partnership on the basis of complementary advantages.

Ye Ting, Party secretary of Qiangjiao town, said that the town is doing its utmost to build itself into a coastal tourism resort with a global profile in East China, adding that it urgently needs high-quality professionals.

The town has established long-term strategic partnerships with universities including Ningbo University, University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, and Zhejiang Wanli College to carry out in-depth cooperation in fields including rural revitalization, cultural and tourism integration, as well as industrial development.