As China's educational tourism market flourishes, an increasing number of international students are spending their summer vacations in the country to learn Chinese and experience its rich cultural heritage firsthand.
Among them, a group of American high school students recently embarked on a unique study tour in Beijing, trying their hands at brush calligraphy, clay sculpting, and more.
"I learned a bit of Chinese from my parents. I can speak and comprehend spoken language, but my reading and writing aren't very good," said one student during a calligraphy workshop.
"It's pretty challenging," said another student, trying his hand at brush-writing Chinese characters.
Hou Ping, their Chinese teacher from the U.S., explained the students' motivations.
"Since they were very young, their mothers hoped they would enroll in my Chinese class once they reached high school. Others have fathers who do business with China and strongly want their children to learn Chinese. Then there are kids who simply love characters like Ne Zha or the Monkey King, and they just want to learn more about China," said Hou.
To enhance the cultural immersion, organizers blended visits to historical sites with interactive workshops.
"In July alone, we have received nearly 160 American teachers and students. For the second half of 2025, we are expected to receive two to three more overseas groups for study tours in China. As part of their cultural curriculum, we've arranged specialized clay sculpture workshops conducted by intangible cultural heritage experts. These sessions feature iconic Chinese elements like giant pandas and the Monkey King to show our cultural heritage," said Chen Jia, program director of Beijing Language and Culture University Press's educational tourism division.
The workshops also gave the young Americans an opportunity to share their newfound cultural insights with family and friends back home.
"I actually had a lot of fun, I might give it to my mom, or I might keep it for myself to hang up in my dorm," said a student.
"That's the kind of thing I came to China to learn, all about the culture. And I'm more excited to learn more about the tiny things like this. It's cool," said another student.
The program reflects a broader surge in study-abroad trips to China.
From July 1 to 10, Beijing ports recorded over 640,000 inbound and outbound passenger trips, including 171,000 international visitors - representing a 22.1 percent year-on-year increase."
US students embrace Chinese culture through immersive summer study program
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
