Multilayered experience

These Discover China tours have been designed to incorporate visits to historical sites, cultural streets and companies in various cities, with the aim to "help young people feel the pulse of Chinese civilization and perceive its development momentum", said Zhao, the vice-president of BFSU.

Joshua Calandrella, a PhD student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, made special note of the historic buildings.

"I've been very much impressed with the art and the architecture, such as the Forbidden City. Learning the symbolism behind it and knowing how they're preserved and respected is really inspiring. It puts the past and the present together in a really unique way," he said.

Blake was similarly impressed.

" (When it comes to) the preservation of symbols and palaces, the US is definitely not on the same level at all," she said.

Apart from getting a taste of the long history of the Chinese civilization, the students also experienced how technological innovation is transforming people's lives and leading to industrial advancements.

At a showroom in Beijing for Chinese electric carmaker Nio, the students experienced various electric vehicle models and saw how artificial intelligence technologies have been integrated into voice assistants and autonomous driving systems.