Fundedby the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment forSustainable Development (IESD) together with Tongji University Internationaloffice and College of Environmental Science and Engineering organized “2016 InternationalVisit to Lizhuang”. This trip was finalized successfully from 14th to 20th October in 2016. The purpose of this event was to promotethe understanding of Chinese culture among the students of Tongji Universityand to give them the opportunity to explore Tongji’s history. Another purposeof this event was to strengthen the cultural exchange between Chinese andforeign students and encourage them that during this trip they can togetherpromote green ideas and sustainability between local students. Participants ofthis event were foreign students with Ministry of Commerce scholarship from2015 and representatives from the College of Environment in Tongji University.

Groupof students guided by Tongji University brought the education to Li Zhuang sothat foreign and Chinese visitors to Li Zhuang ancient town could find out moreabout the period when Tongji University moved to this place and how theirresidents accept it.Visitors to this magnificent ancient town could alsorealize significant contribution of Tongji University to planning anddevelopment of new Li Zhuang. At the same time foreign students with theMinistry of Commerce scholarship and undergraduate level representatives from environmentalcollege also carried out short term environmental education activities in LizhuangMiddle School. Chinese and foreign students in pairs interacted with localstudents in each class through games, dancing and singing. At the same time thestudents introduced their own national culture and the green campus concept ofTongji University in English language, with the purpose of improving the localstudents’ interest in English language and to encourage them on independentlearning and understanding of the world geography and different nationalcultures. After two days of support activities and time spent together it wasnot easy for Tongji students to say farewell to the local students.

Afterending this visit, Tongji and Li Zhuang’s Tongji and Li Zhuang's exchange activitieswill continue and Li Zhuang will gradually move towards the new era of internationalcommunication.