Liu Ruoxuan, Qiu Yiyang

3123114559@qq.com

A DELEGATION of high school students from the U.S. state of Washington received a warm welcome Monday as they embarked on a two-day visit to Shenzhen. Ten volunteers from the College of International Studies at Shenzhen University (SZU) assisted the students throughout their stay in the city.

The students were part of a larger program announced by President Xi Jinping last November, aiming to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over the next five years.

The visit was packed with diverse activities. The first day offered a blend of nature and urban exploration. The students explored the Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve and learned about the critical role of mangrove ecosystems.

The student delegates and SZU volunteers then went to the “Mirror of the Sky” observation deck, where they captured panoramic views of the surrounding area. The cityscape unfurled beneath them, a testament to Shenzhen’s rapid growth. Following this, the group planted trees near the Qianhai Shuangjie River. A relaxed and friendly atmosphere prevailed throughout the visit, with American students and SZU volunteers engaging in conversations and sharing songs. Before bidding farewell, they enjoyed a night of leisure at Coco Park in Futian District.

While strolling through Coco Park, the volunteers took the opportunity to introduce their American friends to local brands.

Audrianna Ritamarie Burns from Lincoln High School expressed her desire to purchase Chinese jewelry as a gift for her mom. “They look so exquisite!” she exclaimed while admiring the craftsmanship at a traditional jewelry shop.

Students also exchanged views on eco-friendly lifestyles. Makenna Mae Kelpman, a young woman from Steilacoom High School, shared her community’s habits of using paper straws and recycling shopping bags, while also applauding China’s growing trend of garbage sorting. “It’s really cool that people are more environmentally conscious,” she commented.

The English communication skills and warm hospitality of the SZU volunteers were highly praised by their American counterparts.

“The biggest gain is the friends we’ve made,” said Montserrat Romero-Rocha from Lincoln High School. “They are all very nice people. And they speak English so well. I’d love to go back to Shenzhen again.”

For Zhou Junshu, one of the volunteers, cultural communication is “much more challenging than I’ve imagined.”

“But the rewards are worth every obstacle we’ve overcome. After two days, we have already become very good friends,” Zhou said.

Zhang Zebin, another volunteer from SZU, said it is a true honor “to help promote cultural exchange.”

“I am so glad to witness a growing interest in Chinese culture among my new friends. Some of them even bought [language] exercise books to learn Chinese,” Zhang said.