A group photo of foreigners and local government leaders at the Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Twenty-one foreigners from 15 countries gathered at the national 4A-level Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area, Yixing, on Oct 19, due to the provincial external exchange activity "Foreigners' view of Jiangsu-Yixing" trip.

Situated in South Jiangsu and close to Taihu Lake, Yixing is well-known as a pottery capital. It is a modern city of history, culture and ecology. With the increasing development of its economy and culture, Yixing has been a dream land for people at home and abroad to live and work in, the director of Yixing's publicity department Shen Xiaohong said at the opening ceremony.

During the two-day trip, foreigners visited the Bamboo Sea Scenic Area and tea industrial park, and experienced the creation of purple clay teapots.

Foreigners make purple clay teapots. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"The environment in the Bamboo Sea is very natural and comfortable. I'm excited to see craft masters' teapots, because I'm engaged in arts," said Nathan Taylor, a postgraduate student in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University.

He added that he has lived in China since 2004 and in Jiangsu since 2008. The trip is very interesting, because he now knows more about Jiangsu.

Foreigners and local performers dance together. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In addition, they attended the 8th Yixing China International Ceramic Culture and Arts Festival on Oct 20, which attracted more than 2,000 people, including craft masters, representatives from Wuxi's sister cities and businessmen from over 30 countries and regions.

The opening ceremony of the 8th Yixing China International Ceramic Culture and Arts Festival [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The annual "Foreigners' view of Jiangsu", established in 2012 by the Jiangsu government, is an external exchange platform.

It aims to introduce Jiangsu worldwide from the perspective of foreigners, who live and travel in the province and enhance its influence and enlarge its popularity.

Yixing, with an area of 2,038 square kilometers and a population of 1.07 million, is an ecologically progressive and livable city with eight national 4A scenic spots. It has won many honors, such as "Chinese Outstanding Tourism City", "National Hygiene City", "National Environmental Protection Model City" and "National Ecological City" in recent years.

Yixing has a long history of pottery creation of more than 7,000 years. Its purple clay teapot craftsmanship is unique and attracts many tourists. The city was listed as a "national famous historical and cultural city" in January 2011 by the State Council.

Jinghu Lake, at the national 4A-level Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Yixing is also a newly-developed city with a rapidly developing economy. In 2014, it reached a total output value of 124.8 billion yuan ($19.96 billion), a public finance budget revenue of 9.45 billion yuan and a social consumer goods turnover of 46.5 billion yuan.