Overseas Chinese youth participate the summer camp in Qingtian county, Lishui, Zhejiang province, on July 9. [Photo/Tide News]

A summer camp for overseas Chinese youth kicked off on July 9 in Qingtian county in Lishui, Zhejiang province, attracting 540 participants from over 30 countries and regions.

The 10-day program includes visits to stone carving workshops, the hometown of ancient strategist Liu Ji, and a rice-fish co-culture system, showcasing intangible cultural heritage, historical wisdom, and ecological farming civilization.

Organizers aim to help the younger generation understand their ancestors' entrepreneurial spirit and deepen their connection to Chinese culture and Qingtian's unique overseas-Chinese heritage.

Sun Jiayi, a German-born participant majoring in literature, expressed great interest in local agricultural heritage and stone carving, hoping to gain new knowledge through the immersive experience.

Li Junting, another 12-year-old overseas Chinese from Spain, attending for the second time, said she learned the local dialect and classical poetry last year, made friends, and plans to share Qingtian's development stories with overseas relatives and friends after returning to Spain.

Qingtian, a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, has long prioritized youth engagement. It regularly hosts such camps and related activities, which have benefited over 13,000 young overseas Chinese to date.