French students explore Hunan's cultural treasures

Jean-Baptiste Isabelle, a teacher, said she has gained a deeper understanding of the province. "Hunan is beautiful, and Changsha county is beautiful! I know that 100 years ago, there were already strong connections between us and Changsha. I'm thrilled to see this history continue today, and I believe it will endure forever," she said.

The ongoing bilateral exchanges, where Chinese students can study in France, and French students live with Chinese families, are a rare and precious opportunity for us to better understand Chinese culture, she said.

Sixteen-year-old Julien Sabel, visiting China for the first time, began learning Chinese six years ago out of a deep interest in Chinese culture, and has diligently studied the language.

"I've always been fascinated by Chinese culture. To me, China was a distant country with a completely different language. I believe mastering Chinese will open doors for me to study, work and communicate here more smoothly," he said.

"In February this year, I hosted students from Changsha in France. I felt it was only natural for me to come here in return. In the future, I'll strive for more opportunities to visit China, as there's so much left for me to discover."