Tourists preparing to travel to China check in at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 American tourists departed from Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. on Friday for trips to China during the Spring Festival holiday, as part of a Chinese New Year cultural exchange program organized by Air China.
The tour groups will travel to multiple destinations across China, experience traditional Spring Festival customs and gain firsthand exposure to Chinese culture and life.
Joe Jackson, a Los Angeles resident preparing to board at Los Angeles International Airport, told Xinhua that this would be his first visit to China. He said he chose to travel during the Chinese New Year in hopes of experiencing the festive celebrations in person and learning more about the country's traditions.
Jackson is scheduled to visit Shenyang with his wife during the trip.
Among the participants is a delegation of 45 teachers and students from Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, who departed from Washington, D.C. for Beijing on a pickleball-themed exchange tour.
During their stay, they will visit Beijing and Shenzhen, and engage in pickleball friendship matches and cultural exchanges with local students.
Peng Lei, general manager of Air China North America, told Xinhua that people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States have continued to expand in recent years.
He noted that Spring Festival-themed activities serve as important platforms for cultural engagement and offer overseas visitors valuable opportunities to better understand China and experience its vibrant development. ■
A tourist poses for a photo while holding a gift presented by Air China at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
