MORE than 700 teenagers from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan hopped on a special train at Shenzhen Railway Station on Saturday to embark on a 12-day journey for cultural exchanges, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

The special train will take the teenagers to cities such as Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guiyang and Kaili to visit scenic spots and historical sites, admire the beautiful landscapes of the mainland and get a better understanding of 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

The trip also aims to help teenagers from the four places experience the rapid development of their motherland, further enhance understanding and friendship, stimulate patriotic enthusiasm, and enhance cultural confidence and national pride.

“The city I am most looking forward to in this event is Xi’an, because it has rich cultural heritage such as the Mausoleum of Qinshihuang and the Terracotta Warriors, which show the glory of ancient Chinese culture and provide us with the opportunity to learn about ancient history,” a student surnamed Huang from Pui Ching Middle School Macao was quoted as saying.

Alice Mak, secretary for Hong Kong’s home and youth affairs, said: “This event is a rare opportunity for Hong Kong teenagers. They can broaden their horizons and learn a lot along the way, and come back to share their experiences with other teenage friends.”

The cultural exchange event has been held for 11 sessions since 2006 and has attracted over 6,000 teenagers from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to participate.

(Zhang Yu, Zhang Chaoyi)