A group of expats joined locals on a "Discover WND" trip to celebrate the harvest season in Wuxi's Hongshan town, East China's Jiangsu province on Oct 24.

In the morning, the group gathered at the golden paddies where a variety of popular straw cartoon characters were set up, attracting dozens of families with kids. Participants enjoyed bright autumn views under the clear sky as they played sports and listened to folk music.

A group of expats poses for a photograph in the golden paddies of Hongshan town, Wuxi on Oct 24. [Photo by Ishtiaq Ahmed/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The smell of the paddies and fascinating environment take me back to my childhood, said Saqib Nazmus, a Bangladeshi student from Jiangnan University.

In the afternoon, participants watched performances at the opening ceremony of the first Rural Culture Tourism Festival in Xinwu district and did some browsing at the rural products bazaar. They were amazed by the hospitality of the locals and sampled dozens of local foods.

Brad Hewer and S M Minhus participate in a sports game at a rice paddy in Hongshan town, Wuxi on Oct 24. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"It was wonderful to be able to experience rural life in Wuxi. The children being able to get up close to the rice paddies, play games, and see the sculptures. We all loved the local foods at the market," said Melanie Hewer, who came with her family from New Zealand.

Ishtiaq Ahmed (right) from Bangladesh shows off a cooked crab at the rural products bazaar in Hongshan town, Wuxi on Oct 24. [Photo by Mao Weijun/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]