Watching the recent TV series featuring China's former leader Deng Xiaoping and the country's historic reform, Liu Baicheng could not help shedding tears.

Liu, who was among the 52 students sent to the United States to study with China's first group of visiting scholars, relived the life-changing moments triggered by Deng's efforts 35 years ago.

"The two years of study not only changed my own life but also led me on a path to science and research," Liu said.