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Students from Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and China visit a yellow rice wine cellar in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

The first visit of the Asian Consortium for Excellence in Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Education (ACE Program) to Shaoxing ran from Aug 5 to 12.

The visit saw the participation of more than 40 students and faculty members from esteemed institutions such as Peking University, Seoul National University, National University of Singapore, and Rikkyo University.

Throughout the course of the program, attendees engaged in a diverse array of activities, including sightseeing, cultural immersion, team-building exercises, and academic exchanges, providing a comprehensive understanding of Shaoxing's rich cultural heritage and its contemporary economic landscape.

The ACE Program aims to elevate the standards of liberal arts education and foster the development of exceptional interdisciplinary talent among students and scholars from China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

This year marked a significant departure from tradition for the ACE Program, as it ventured beyond the confines of Beijing for the very first time. The decision to host the program in Shaoxing was driven by the strong historical and academic connections between the city and participating institutions.

Shaoxing is the hometown of Cai Yuanpei, former president of Peking University, and also boasts ties to Rikkyo University through Zhou Zuoren, the esteemed brother of literary luminary Lu Xun, who pursued his studies there.