Visiting foreign Mandarin learners get a taste of China

Teen participants in language contest impressed by trips to Beijing, Yunnan

A group of foreign teenagers recently toured China and said they found the country interesting and friendly, adding that they were impressed by its culture and natural scenery.

A total of 110 students, age from 14 to 18 from about 100 countries, visited Beijing and Southwest China's Yunnan province during a 15-day tour in October while taking part in the 16th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students.

In Beijing, the teens visited the Great Wall, Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China and the National Stadium. In Yunnan, they took trips to Xizhou town, the ancient city of Dali, Erhai Lake, the Chengjiang Fossil Site Natural Museum, Yunnan Wild Animal Park, the Kunming Dounan Flower Market and other places.

They learned the art of paper-cutting and how to make clay figurines, dough models and sachets. They also played Chinese musical instruments, practiced martial arts, engaged in tie-dyeing and tea-making, and tried on traditional Chinese costumes.

The teens learned about China's history by traveling to sites with traditional Chinese architecture and experiencing intangible cultural heritage, while their visits to communities, schools and families helped them understand modern China.

For most, it was their first time visiting China, and many said the tour helped them gain a new perspective and deeper understanding of the country and its people.

Eric Phelipe Dos Reis Dias, from Brazil, said he liked the sachets made in Yunnan and was happy to celebrate his 17th birthday in Kunming, the provincial capital.

"I visited a student's home in Dali, and we made dumplings," he said.

He said he began teaching himself Mandarin four years ago by watching videos online before attending classes at a Confucius Institute.