Bulgarian tourists try stone carving in Qingtian county in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

A Bulgarian tour group explored Qingtian's distinctive overseas Chinese culture from April 27 to 29. The visit was guided by Qingtian native Jin Lianfen, who moved to Bulgaria in 2000 and used her connections within the overseas Chinese community to bring the visitors.

The group’s first stop was the Qingtian Stone Carving Museum, where they viewed nearly 1,000 pieces of this national intangible cultural heritage and tried their hand at stone carving.

Bulgarian tourist Rayna Mandova said the activity was novel and enjoyable, though challenging. Another tourist, Nikolay Zlatkov, described the experience as therapeutic and bought cultural souvenirs, adding that Qingtian's stone carving culture was unlike anywhere else.

The tourists then visited Longxian village in Fangshan township, explored a currency museum, and tasted the local rice field-raised fish. Tourist Mihail Hristov praised the delicious flavor and scenic beauty, noting Qingtian's unique charm.

In the evening, they enjoyed the night view of Taihe Lake and toured Qingtian Imported Commodities City. Tourist Krasimira Petkova was surprised to find coffee from around the world readily available and commended the city's lush greenery, diverse food, and friendly locals.

Jin Lianfen said she chose Qingtian as the first destination to let her friends experience its distinctive lifestyle. The trip gave them a genuine understanding of China, and they expressed a desire to return with their families.

Moving forward, Qingtian plans to offer more cross-border tourism routes.