NEW YORK, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- From climbing the Great Wall and touring the Forbidden City to practicing calligraphy and making friends in classrooms, tens of thousands of young Americans experienced China firsthand in recent years, gaining fresh perspectives through face-to-face exchanges with their Chinese peers.
The journeys are part of the "50,000 in Five Years" initiative, born out of Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2023 visit to San Francisco, where he announced that China was ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to the country for exchange and study programs over five years.
By mid-2026, more than 50,000 American youth had visited China under the initiative, where they explored the country's history, culture and modern development through visits to landmarks, classroom exchanges and hands-on experiences, including writing Chinese calligraphy, practicing kung fu, making paper cuts and tasting local cuisine.
"This was the first time I got to witness such a thrilling and exciting experience. I was really touched by the hospitality and welcoming spirit of the Chinese people," Lily Rabb, a student from Chicago Intercultural Montessori Language School, told Xinhua.
"I feel like I could only experience China through the media or second-hand resources. But when I got to understand the culture and learn about the history, I really understood how China was able to intertwine its traditional aspects and values with its modern growing economy. It was incredible to witness that firsthand," she said.
AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER
Emmanuel Garcia-Gomez Jr. was among the first students from Muscatine, Iowa, to visit China under the program. The trip created "memories I'll cherish forever," he wrote in the book "West Meets East: 100 American Secondary School Students' Tales about China".
Gomez recalled seeing giant pandas in Beijing for the first time, amused by how their relaxing movements resembled his own lounging in bed on Sunday mornings. On the Great Wall, he learned that "the most beautiful views come after the hardest climb." In Shanghai's Yu Garden, he admired the exquisite design and artistic finesse of traditional Chinese gardens.
"Through the experience, I've become even more eager to explore China and learn more about this country," he wrote.
"Before I went to China, I had already known and learned from my textbooks about Chinese culture and history. But experiencing how warm, inviting and friendly the people were was really amazing," said Ava Moore, a student from Chicago Intercultural Montessori Language School.
Cole Loos from Muscatine described his China trip as "eye-opening."
"Before going to China, I already had some ideas about the culture and food, but being there and actually immersed in it was a much different experience," he told Xinhua.
"The cities were really pretty and big and nicer than I expected. I thought there would obviously be problems with air pollution, but once I got there, it wasn't bad at all. It really stood out to me that China was taking steps to address climate change and environmental issues," he said.
For many American students, the tour proved transformative, sparking an enduring appetite to return to China and explore further.
WEAVING BONDS ACROSS BORDERS
For the American students who participated in the program, a solitary word anchored their impressions: "connection."
Skye Foster from Muscatine said Shijiazhuang was her favorite destination during her China trip because "that's where I made new good friends."
At Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, Foster joined his Chinese peers in classes, extracurriculars, and the symbolic planting of a friendship tree to celebrate U.S.-China youth relations.
Back in the United States, Foster stayed in touch with her Chinese peers through WeChat. Reflecting on the lasting impact of the visit, she shared, "I hope the little tree we planted together grows strong, and that our friendship remains evergreen."
"My favorite part was getting to see the other (Chinese) students and talk about how they live their day-to-day lives compared to how we live ours," Sienna Stoneking from Muscatine told Xinhua. "I think this is helping us create better understanding and making lifelong friendships."
Penelope Roewe from Niles North High School in Illinois visited China for two weeks in 2024. She still remembers Hu Jiani, a student at Fuzhou No. 1 Middle School, who taught her to play the guqin.
"Even though I was struggling, she didn't give up. She laughed with me and even gave me a little present," Roewe wrote in the book "West Meets East".
Rabb suggested creating an alumni network for American students who have participated in the initiative, "where we can connect with other people who are just as interested in China as we are."
"I really felt welcomed by the Chinese people. I felt like I was part of their community. That really changed my perspective," she said.
BUILDING THE BRIDGE AHEAD
In December 2025, more than 50 American students gathered at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago to share how personal stories and cultural exchange deepened their understanding of China through the program.
Grateful for every moment of the experience, the students left with a single, clear hope: that the door would remain open for future participants to follow in their footsteps.
"Getting to know China through school or a class is one thing, but actually getting to know China by being there and knowing the people is a whole different thing," Gomez told Xinhua. "The taste, the feel, the smell and the sights of China really set into picture how good of a place it can be."
"To give students like me the opportunity to experience it themselves, they can create their own opinions and develop their own understanding of different countries," Loos said.
Lucas Berrone, board of directors of Iowa Sister States, called the program "one of the most meaningful initiatives" he had seen.
"It really warms my heart to look at the students and feel their enthusiasm about their trip and what they discover," he told Xinhua.
"We might not see the benefit immediately. This is an investment in the future. We're bringing young Americans to China to discover and to move beyond notions they might have heard, been exposed to or grown up with," Berrone said.
For him, these newly formed bonds were just the beginning -- he looked forward to seeing these friendships blossom into future exchanges and shared experiences.
"The moment that they come together and exchange ideas, passions and interests has become the culmination of their trip," he said.■
