International guests attending the 2026 Belt and Road Journalists Forum took a night cruise along the Confucius Temple-Qinhuai River scenic belt in Nanjing, east China’s Jiangsu Province. Drifting past shimmering lanterns to the dip of oars, they embarked on a cross-cultural experience steeped in the city’s mix of ancient heritage and modern vitality.

Setting off from Panchi Wharf, the boat glided past landmarks including Bailuzhou Park, Qicai Water Street and Taoye Ferry. The guide recounted the river’s thousand-year history, from the cultural splendor of the Six Dynasties to the legacy of the Confucius Temple and its ancient imperial academy. Many overseas journalists listened intently, posing curious questions throughout the voyage.

Yann Vernerie, president of French media firm EDN Media Production, hailed the river scenery, noting that each trip to China brings fresh surprises. Fiifi Nii Nettey, a member of the Ghana Journalists Association, said China’s continued progress across all sectors is impressive and makes the country well worth revisiting. For Andrey Velchev, editor-in-chief of a Bulgarian media outlet, such exchanges help deepen cultural understanding, build mutual trust and advance practical cooperation.