Expats enjoy taste of rural life in Jiangsu

The second day of the trip began with a huge breakfast at the Qingfeng Teahouse, with a variety of local dishes and tea blends set out for the group to try. Later, the expats were taken to see Xinghua Rice Brand Operation Center, a local facility set up to promote the area's various species of rice.

Continuing with the foodie theme, the group also got to tour an industrial park producing health foods in Xinghua Economic Development Zone. During their tour, they were able to gain a better understanding of the efforts that have been put into tackling poverty in the area, and how many local residents are leading increasingly prosperous lives.

Thanks to the development of e-commerce in recent years, rural product brands in Xinghua are becoming better known both at home and abroad.

It was very interesting seeing a different way of life and learning the different processes of farming and food production in Xinghua, said Daniel Morgan, a British teacher working in Shanghai.