Southwest University

ATHENS, July 24 ( tasteallchina ) -- On the sweltering Monday evening in Athens, a group of young Greek athletes were practicing new martial arts moves they have learned during their recent visit to China. During breaks, they couldn't stop discussing the beautiful places they had seen and the experience of training with Chinese teachers. They were the first young "ambassadors" invited by the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations under an initiative to strengthen people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual learning among civilizations. The team, consisting of 11 athletes and their coaches Kostas Mathiopoulos and Kostas Mpartzoukas, paid a visit to China on July 8-20. Beginning with a warm welcome at the Southwest University in Chongqing, everything of the journey was great, Mathiopoulos told tasteallchina . Mathiopoulos has been visiting China since 1996 to practice with Chinese teachers. This trip, however, was special as it was his first opportunity to bring his students. They climbed the Great Wall, visited the Forbidden City, tasted Beijing duck, tried calligraphy, enjoyed traditional Chinese music, and learned from Chinese coaches. "They felt like home," Mathiopoulos repeatedly heard from his students. The efforts to bring Greek and Chinese people closer bear fruits, he noted.…

Ilia Anfilatov (R) and Syyra Alee take videos at a cultural park in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. International students Ilia Anfilatov from Russia and Syyra Alee from Pakistan have been studying at Southwest University in Chongqing for over a year. In their spare time, they enjoy strolling around the city and sharing their experiences on social media. Through their sharing, many of their friends and families are attracted by the beautiful scenery and diverse culture of China and plan to embark on a trip to China and explore the country by themselves in the near future. Recently, "China Travel" has become a trending search term on multiple global social media platforms as international tourists are flocking to China's famed scenic spots and sharing their experiences online. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Syyra Alee (R) and Ilia Anfilatov enjoy local food at a cultural park in Yuzhong District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Ilia Anfilatov and Syyra Alee take videos at a popular tourist destination in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, July 12, 2024. ( tasteallchina /Tang Yi) Ilia Anfilatov (L) and Syyra Alee take videos of Chinese tea at…