Tour offers students a taste of traditional Chinese culture

To prepare himself for his education in China, Mohammed studied Chinese, practiced martial arts like tai chi and learned to sing Chinese folk songs such as Jasmine Flower at the China Cultural Center in Nigeria for the past six months.

Speaking about the 10-day event, he says: "This is not my first time in China, but it's the first time I've been exposed to so many things in such a short time. I even attempted to wrap a jiaozi on my own."

Seif Aldin Ahmed, from Cairo, Egypt, who works part-time in a travel agency, says he will have a lot to talk about with his Chinese customers after the trip.

Seif, who is majoring in mass communication, says he plans to continue his studies next year in Beijing and then look for a job in the country.

"I met a girl who studies journalism and communication at Peking University on the first day I arrived here. And what she told me about the courses piqued my curiosity.

"I would like to try them in the coming year," he says, adding that he would like to work in China.

The 21-year-old registered at the cultural center in Cairo two years ago to see Chinese movies, exhibitions featuring traditional Chinese paintings and Chinese cultural troupes.

The activities organized by the center attracted over 54,000 visitors last year, according to Qi Zhengjun, an officer at the cultural center in Cairo.

Apart from offering Chinese classes, the center also teaches martial arts, besides holding traditional temple fairs, music festivals, variety shows, cultural symposiums, lantern exhibitions and dragon-boat races.

"We also held a tour-guide training class for local people as a lot of Chinese visit Egypt," says Qi.

"We want to spread Chinese culture and promote friendship with the country," he says.