Reaching out fosters changes in perception

The initiative of inviting 50,000 young people from the United States to China for study and exchange programs over a five-year period has been readily embraced by many US students, with Chinese cultural products serving as a driving factor for some.

"There are so many layers to discover within Chinese culture," said Ashley Blake, a student at Harvard University who attended the program this summer, noting her love for Chinese dramas, as well as traditional Chinese music, clothing, and the evolution of fashion throughout history. "I think those things are really influential."

Like Blake, many of the students attending exchange programs have been learning Chinese as a foreign language and strive to attain a language certificate, though few have been to China before. Therefore, when the opportunity of a short-term exchange program to China presented itself, most of them thought, "Why not?" and readily embarked on the journey.

William Rose II, a 20-year-old economics major from the University of Wyoming, is pursuing an honors degree in Chinese and is the president of the university's "associated students interested in China club".

Starting to learn Chinese at 6, he thought it's important not only to learn the language but also to see the people and experience the culture. "A reason I came here is to reaffirm things that I've had some experiences with," he said.

Back in the US, he had organized events to promote Chinese culture. "We would organize events to celebrate Spring Festival, go to elementary schools and teach kids about Chinese zodiac signs, and show them kung fu and lion costumes. I think it's really neat stuff and people have to learn about it."

Similarly, Perry Domasky, a history student from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is also the president of the Chinese club at his university, which, according to him, should be attributed to his extensive knowledge of Chinese history.

"China was kind of like a dark spot on the map when it comes to the history education I got at school in the West, but I really like delving into China's history. It fascinated me so much — the West and East connections from the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), you get Marco Polo coming over," he said, adding that his academic focus was increasingly "going in a Chinese direction".

It's not just the country's traditional culture and history that have attracted the attention of young people; modern works from the cultural and entertainment industry have also garnered a global viewership larger than first imagined.

Blake and her friends said that they love Chinese music, dramas and variety shows.

"Right now, I'm watching the Chinese drama The First Frost. It's so good," said one of the students.

"Learning about the culture through these ways, I got more interested in it myself," said another.

Students attending the program said they fell for Labubu, a plush doll created by Chinese toymaker Pop Mart; bought the Black Myth: Wukong video game; and planned to visit Chongqing after seeing posts about the verticality of the mountainous city on social media.

These cultural products and activities have seen growing popularity among younger generations, serving as magnets for them to dive in and explore China's rich culture, despite tensions between the US and China elsewhere.

The younger generations' perception of China has moved beyond the superficial and toward a more in-depth, multidimensional one.