Eight candidates from universities competed on July 17 in Beijing to join the Experiencing China program, which encourages college students to engage different aspects of social life.

More than 4,000 people applied after the program was launched in January by Channel Young under the Shanghai Media Group. Plans include spending a year studying ethnic folk songs in Guizhou province and investigating the rural education system.

Three final winners will each be awarded 100,000 yuan ($16,000), which they can use to realize their proposals in a year and share their experiences via micro blogs and online videos.