A group of students from the United States started a nine-day tour of China in Beijing on Sunday to play friendly pickleball matches with their Chinese counterparts and learn first-hand about China's culture and development.
Held by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange under China's Ministry of Education, the event is part of a new people-to-people exchange initiative proposed by China this September to invite 100,000 young Americans to visit the country for exchange and educational programs in the next five years, after the two sides successfully completed the previous initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over a five-year period.
This year's event will take the students to China's capital, Beijing, as well as Guangzhou, provincial capital of south China's Guangdong.
In Beijing, their first stop was the exhibition center of the Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone.
Students got an up-close look at the latest achievements in China's commercial space industry, new energy, and embodied intelligent dexterous hands, among other fields, and witnessed the vibrant dynamism of China's scientific and technological innovation—from breakthroughs in basic research to industrial applications.
"It's so eye-opening to see how technology is advancing in the world. Very practical. I think bringing back my knowledge that I learned from this trip and this exhibit will definitely benefit the community," said Jasmine John, a junior at Northern Marianas College (NMC) in Saipan, the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
"I think that's really impressive and just seeing the modules, they're all very interesting. The space data centers were something that I had never considered. I expect to see more technology, more AI developments, but I am also really excited for the cultural aspects. I think there is a lot going on in the world, and it's just interesting; you hear a lot about things in the news, and there's nothing like seeing it yourself. So I think being able to experience something for yourself is really meaningful," said Yasmin Toledo, digital communications manager at the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois Chicago.
"It was an amazing exhibit, amazing things. You guys have amazing cars in here and just the technology where you can fix the bones and the diabetes cure, so I found it very interesting. This is something I could definitely pass along to my students. I think that we need more facilities like this for students to visit because it would be very informative," said Gerald Dixon from the New York City Public Schools, officially known as the New York City Department of Education.
American students also visited the ancient Dongsi Hutong to experience the vibrant everyday life in Beijing and learn about the outcomes of old-city renewal and refined urban governance.
"I think that's a great place, very, very needed, especially in more urban parts of Beijing, because it gives me perspective into how people live their lives and also how they can improve their lives. And that helps keep my open mind, and I think that gives me another perspective on the world," said Isa Gassendorfer from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
"I loved it, yeah. It was amazing. I think it's great seeing the city; even though it's so big, there's a lot of different things that the government does to let communities know that they're being looked after, that they're seen. Before, China was like a mystery, but now getting to be here and seeing it, it's amazing to see what China is and how it's developed so far," said civil engineering student Mirka Velasquez from the University of Washington.
James Huang Zeng, a graduate student at Columbia University, serves as the U.S. liaison for this program. He has brought more than 100 American university students to China for exchange visits. Through those trips, he has witnessed shifting perceptions of China among many young Americans.
"The most noticeable effect is that their views on China have undergone dramatic shifts, even a 180-degree turnaround. Before arriving here, some of them had no idea what China is really like and clung to prejudices dating back 10 or 20 years. But after setting foot in China, they truly fell in love with the country," he said.
U.S. students tour Beijing during pickleball exchange trip
U.S. students tour Beijing during pickleball exchange trip
