American university students and faculty got a rare up-close look at one of China's newest industries on Friday, stepping inside a flying car at a base in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, as part of a pickleball-themed cultural exchange program in China.
The visit was part of the "2026 U.S. University Student Pickleball People-to-People Exchange China Tour," which is taking a 29-member delegation of students and faculty members to Guangzhou and the Chinese capital Beijing.
At the base, the group watched the modular separation, combination and flight demonstration of the "Land Aircraft Carrier," a flying car developed by Xpeng Aeroht, a Chinese smart mobility company. They also stepped inside the cabin for a hands-on experience and sat down for a face-to-face exchange with Xpeng Aeroht founder Zhao Deli about the promising low-altitude economy.
"I mean it's so cool. I love it. It's so great to see all the new technology and advancements and there's also taking so many pictures is to document it you know, and this experience is once in a lifetime to get to see. And it's just I mean it's great to see technology and it's amazing. Hopefully I could work sometime maybe for this company or some type of collaboration," said Issa, a student from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
"So it's forward, backward, and to turn like left. I mean seeing this first hand is amazing. I've never been in a helicopter before. It is like a video game. Yeah, I'd love to see how it's integrated into society and how we can help make it more accessible as well," said Milca, a student from the University of Washington.
During the visit, young people from both China and the U.S. also played friendly pickleball matches and visited giant pandas at Chimelong Safari Park, blending technology with cultural engagement.
Their tour was organized by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange under China's Ministry of Education. It is part of an initiative proposed by China in September to invite 100,000 young Americans to the country for exchanges and educational programs over the next five years, after an earlier program brought 50,000 young Americans to China over a five-year period.
American students experience a flying car at Guangzhou base on cultural exchange tour
