Students from the Schwarzman Scholars Program, a one-year master's degree at China's prestigious Tsinghua University, pose for a group photo during their field trip to Dianshan Lake town in Jiangsu province from Nov 15 to 17. [Photo from WeChat account KSDHFS]

A group of international students from the Schwarzman Scholars Program, a one-year master's degree at Tsinghua University in China's capital Beijing, took a field trip to Dianshan Lake town in Jiangsu province from Nov 15 to 17.

Aiming to give the world's best and brightest minds the opportunity to gain a better understanding of China's rural areas, the three-day trip included visits to various local museums, companies, schools and villages.

Their trip started at Dianshan Lake Town Archives, where the students were given an insight into the picturesque township's culture and history, as well as the most important agricultural issues facing China, ranging from rural development to farmers' incomes.

Visits to a variety of high-tech companies showed them the modern face of the township, such as a branch of Vipshop Holdings Ltd, an online discount brands retailer which is quite popular among young people in China, and Rosenberger Asia Pacific Electronic Co, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic components.

The students enjoy a relaxed and special trip to Liurudun village on Nov 16, where they used traditional faming tools and sampled unique local dishes. [Photo from WeChat account KSDHFS]