One day in Taicang: Play apprentice, be a local

"It felt like coming home," said German influencer Robert Adolf, known online as "baozi", as he raised his glass at the opening ceremony of "Oktoberfest".

But this homecoming was not in Munich — it was in Taicang, a city in Jiangsu province, where German industry, Chinese tradition and international friendship come together in surprising ways.

On Tuesday, six international guests from Brazil, France, Germany, Nepal, Pakistan and Russia took part in the "Play Apprentice, Be a Local" event. From walking through rice fields to touring high-tech parks, from learning about Zheng He's voyages to dancing at the opening of Taicang's "Oktoberfest", the day revealed how the city blends history with innovation, and East with West.

The group's itinerary covered the Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall, the Sino-German Dual Education Industrial Park, Taicang Art Museum, the Sino-German Exhibition Hall, the Zheng He Park Memorial Hall and Qishierjia village, before culminating at the city's Oktoberfest.

Each stop highlighted a different dimension of Taicang. At the industrial park, Brazilian student Pedro Caleffi, who studies at Renmin University of China's Suzhou Campus, was struck by its model of integrating education and industry: "Each year, 5,000 new professionals are trained here," he said.

"The technology and infrastructure are impressive, and I couldn't help but wish Brazil had something similar."

In the countryside around Qishierjia village, French travel and food blogger Mylene Mathieu was enchanted by the scenery: "In such a small place, you see both advanced companies and beautiful rice fields or orchards.

"It's peaceful, international and surprisingly 'German' in its cultural integration."

Russian scholar Kirill Kravtsov echoed these sentiments, describing Taicang as "a vivid example of how Jiangnan traditions and German culture can coexist — a true reflection of China's openness and inclusiveness."

The visit to the Zheng He Park Memorial Hall offered a reminder of China's centuries-old openness to the world. Nepali guest Avinav Bista said: "The Zheng He Museum shows China's long tradition of fostering international exchange.

"Today, the presence of so many German enterprises is a continuation of this legacy. The Oktoberfest event reflects the same welcoming spirit."

The Oktoberfest event meant a lot to Robert: "I've always known Taicang as the hometown of German enterprises in China.

"Meeting fellow Germans here and celebrating together with Chinese friends — it truly felt like home."

For many of the guests, the Oktoberfest event symbolized the essence of Taicang: a joyful fusion of cultures. Pedro said: "It was a unique chance to see German beer and dance alongside Chinese enthusiasm — a celebration I'll never forget."

By the end of the day, the six guests agreed that Taicang was far more than a destination. It was, in their words, a place of energy, inclusiveness and balance.