Far-reaching impact

Exchange programs inviting young people from across the world to engage in academic and cultural dialogue with their Chinese counterparts can have long-term effects in deepening the understanding of China and enhancing the friendships between peoples.

Blake, who said that she watches "a ton of Chinese dramas", shared one of the reasons for signing up for the trip. "I'm considering pursuing a PhD in East Asian studies, which would require me to spend more time here and further immerse myself in the language."

Perry Domasky, from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said his biggest takeaway from the trip was how the Western discourse portraying China differs from what it really is.

"We're told in the West that China is monolithic and it's not cosmopolitan, and that couldn't be further from the truth. Every region has a completely different culture, but they're all still Chinese," Domasky said. "It opened my eyes to see what China really is, which motivated me to come back and continue studying Chinese.

"I've been taking as many pictures as I can, and I've been trying to observe as much as I can. And I'm going to make a slideshow telling everybody about what China was like, how different it was than how it's usually portrayed (in the West) when I go back," he added.

Rose II from Wyoming summed up his thoughts. "The cities are for sure different, but in some way they have the same rhythm. When you look at the people of China and the people of the United States, there is not a whole lot of differences," he said. "Regardless of what someone believes or not, the core principles and the morals of each person — being outgoing, friendly, having integrity, as far as I can tell, look pretty much the same."

Xi Zhimiao and Zhang Yuyang contributed to this story.

xunuo@chinadaily.com.cn