Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

A GROUP of 15 teenagers from the San Francisco Bay Area arrived in Shenzhen yesterday, kicking off a weeklong culture and innovation-focused exchange program designed to bridge the Pacific through shared experiences.

The exchange camp echoes China’s initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over five years to increase interactions between the two peoples, especially between youth. The initiative was announced by President Xi Jinping in San Francisco in 2023.

Representing 14 schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, including 13 high schools and the University of California, Berkeley, the students are part of the Bridging the Bays: China-U.S. Youth Innovation Exploration Exchange Camp organized by the governments of Shenzhen and San Francisco. They were accompanied by a chaperone and four teachers.

Their first day in the southern Chinese tech hub included visits to Shenzhen Middle School, where they interacted with local students and participated in campus activities, and “The Great Tides Surge Along the Pearl River” exhibition, which chronicles Guangdong Province’s transformation through 40 years of reform and opening up.

At Shenzhen Middle School, the American students explored the school’s library and student art displays before trying their hands at Chinese paper-cutting.

The craft seemed to resonate. Ian Augustus Pearson Co, from San Marin High School, found it “pretty nice,” “relaxing,” “not too difficult,” and “a pretty simple way to make something that looks pretty good.” It was his first time attempting the art form.

Chih Kang Lee, from West Covina High School, appreciated its intricacy, noting that it was “very unique” and involved visualizing the whole image while making small cuts to create various designs.

The visit also featured a robotics challenge. Ziqi Zhou, from Lynbrook High School, described the game as “very fun and well-designed” with “great” robots. He noted how he and the Shenzhen students communicated beforehand and focused intently on controlling their robot during the challenge.

The history exhibition left a deep impression on Audrey Lily Ngin from Carlmont High School. She was struck by the speed of Shenzhen’s development. “It was really eye-opening,” she said. “It was kind of surprising how they built things really fast. Like the guide mentioned, building one floor in three days – wow, that’s really fast.”

For Vaylene Kassandra Baxter, one of the teachers on the trip, this was her first visit to Shenzhen, though she had traveled to Shanghai and Beijing with her mother in 2017. She joined the trip without hesitation after seeing this opportunity. “Seeing the education that you guys have here and the technology — it’s really amazing.”

The week’s itinerary is packed with diverse experiences aimed at showcasing different facets of Shenzhen, including visits to ecological projects, cultural sites, technology companies, and schools.