(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

The Youth Traditional Orchestra of Changzhou City successfully completed its cultural exchange trip to Japan on February 7.

The 36-member delegation visited Changzhou's sister cities in Japan, participating in performances, school interactions, and multiple community exchanges.

The orchestra's first performance, in Tokorozawa on February 3, drew more than 1,000 participants, including the city’s mayor and officials from the education bureau and other government departments.

Since becoming sister cities in 1994, Changzhou and Tokorozawa have conducted a wide range of cultural and educational exchanges. The orchestra performed classic folk music pieces characteristic of China's Jiangnan region, as well as Japanese folk songs and pop music.

On February 5, the delegation traveled to Takatsuki, where they engaged in musical exchanges with student band of local elementary school, showcasing Western musical instruments alongside traditional Chinese ones such as the erhu, bamboo flute and pipa.