A study trip to explore a millennia-old culture, but also a life experience through Chinese culinary specialties. High school students from the Convitto Nazionale Canopoleno in Sassari spent two weeks at Chongqing University.

The trip, organized through an agreement with the Chinese university, allowed the students to immerse themselves in an urban environment of 30 million inhabitants. Greeted with the traditional gift of apples—a symbol of peace in local culture—the Sassari high school students became true VIPs: in a city where Westerners are still rare, they were often stopped by residents for photos and to ask questions about their origins.

The cultural impact inevitably reached the table. Among the market stalls, the young travelers challenged their prejudices by sampling grasshoppers, grubs (deemed the tastiest), fried millipedes, and the famous Chongqing hotpot, a dish so spicy it tests even the most resistant palates.

"Living as a university student" also meant managing communication: with English virtually nonexistent in the city, the students had to hone their Chinese and the art of gestures to navigate the labyrinthine subway interchanges and the endless stairways of ancient areas like Ciqikou. In addition to on-campus classes, the program offered a dive into traditions: martial arts, archery, and paper carving. There were also iconic moments, such as a visit to the Panda Research Center in Chengdu and a nighttime cruise on the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, where the skyline of LED skyscrapers blends with classical architecture.

The success of the study trip won't be a one-off. The Canopoleno of Sassari is already planning new initiatives.