Mark Hubbard, head of Mark Hubbard and The Voices, a choir from Chicago, Illinois, said the trip to China has brought "so much joy", and the choir has prepared four songs for the visit, including We Are the World.

What his choir members have talked about most in China is the beautiful scenery, architecture, people's hospitality and the food, he said. "The difference is that, now that I'm here, I have a different appreciation for the culture."

"My hope is that we will leave with a better understanding of the culture and unite both the United States and China," Hubbard added.

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, noted that the ongoing choir festival marks the largest thematic youth exchange event since the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties in 1979.