This is the first year since the pandemic that HGE has restarted our cultural exchange programs between China and the U.S. From April to the summer time, HGE took school groups from many American cities, including Dallas, Chicago, Washington, Detroit, and Phoenix, to participate in our various summer study tour programs. They visited China’s most famous cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Hangzhou, embarking on an unforgettable journey across the continent. Through engaging in various intangible cultural heritage craft experiences, interacting and communicating with outstanding Chinese students in excellent schools, volunteering in local kindergartens for community service, visiting well-known scenic spots, and tasting authentic regional cuisine, they explored the unique cultural charm and historical knowledge of the area. The immersive experiences improved their Chinese language skills and ignited a hotter interest in learning Mandarin.
The most popular highlights for students are visiting the majestic Great Wall and the Forbidden City, enjoying spectacular Chinese acrobatic performances, experiencing panda volunteer work in panda base, cooking Sichuan cuisine by themselves, teaching kindergarten children and Chinese peers as language teachers, experiencing China’s high-speed rail, singing in KTV, and enjoying soothing foot massages at a high-end 4D cinema massage center, many students felt reluctant to leave China at the end of the program.
This trip to China provided the children with a joyful and refreshing travel experience, allowing them to personally experience China’s history, traditions, and modern culture, enhancing their understanding of Chinese society and cultivating cross-cultural awareness. Facing new environments and challenges promoted their independence and adaptability, while learning Mandarin in an authentic language environment offered them comprehensive education and growth opportunities, helping them better adapt and develop in an increasingly globalized world.
