For 17-year-old Andrew Carlisle, a student at Lancaster Country Day School (LCDS) in Pennsylvania, his first trip to China was nothing like he expected. "I thought it would be all bustling cities with skyscrapers," he said. "But I was really struck by how green everything is. There were so many plants I'd never seen in America."

Andrew was referring to the hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge in Southwest China's Yunnan province, a region famous for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural diversity.

He was one of 22 LCDS students, aged between 14 and 18, who spent three weeks exploring China last month. Their journey took them from Beijing to Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Chengdu in Sichuan, before ending with a two-week stay in Yunnan.

"Students who only learn about China in class or through the media can't fully grasp the complete picture of the country," said Minhui Wang Haddad, a Chinese language teacher at LCDS. "This trip allowed them to step outside the classroom and experience China firsthand, broadening their perspectives."

Lauren Cohen, 18, was also surprised by how green and peaceful parts of China were compared to the fast-paced, urban images she had seen online. "I was amazed by how many parks there are, even in large cities like Beijing," she said.

It was in these parks that 15-year-old Natalie Carlisle had her first moment of cultural shock. "The locals were doing all kinds of group fitness activities, like square dancing, yoga, and tai chi," she recalled. "I joined in on tai chi, and everyone was so kind and welcoming. I really felt a strong connection with them."

For the students, their time in China went far beyond sightseeing. In Yunnan, they spent their weekdays studying the Chinese language and engaging with local traditions.

"We picked up a lot of vocabulary related to Chinese geography," Andrew said. "Visiting the mountains made it all click. For instance, the Chinese character for 'mountain' resembles the actual shape of some mountains. It was really cool."

He was also fascinated by learning weiqi, or Go, the traditional Chinese board game. "More than half of us became really interested in it," he said. "We're even planning to start a weiqi club when we get back to school in the US."

Natalie recalled a memorable lesson on the various types of tea in Yunnan, where they learned about their origins, production methods, and cultural significance. Afterward, she and her classmates took part in a blind tea tasting — sampling different brews while blindfolded and trying to identify them by taste and aroma.

"We learned in a much more interactive way than just reading textbooks," she said. "I was really amazed at how alive and present this ancient culture still is in China today."

Shared experiences

The students also had the chance to form meaningful connections with their Chinese peers. At a private school in Yunnan, they bonded with local children through martial arts, gift exchanges, and craft-making activities.

Cohen described a heartwarming moment during a painting session. One child taught her the Chinese names for different colors and asked her to translate them into English. "It became a wonderful cultural exchange, "Cohen said. "By the end of the day, I was getting hugs from kids I hadn't even spoken to."

The students also spent three days volunteering at Yunnan Huiling, one of China's first charitable organizations dedicated to supporting people with mental disabilities.

On one of those days, they joined their Chinese peers in selling handmade crafts to raise funds for the cause. As they played music and danced in a circle, they attracted a crowd — many passersby stopped to watch, and some even joined in.

"Actions speak louder than words," Cohen said. "While we couldn't communicate fluently, we were still able to get a meaningful message across."

Throughout their journey, the students were impressed by the richness and diversity of China. Cohen observed that in the US, Chinese culture is often misunderstood or oversimplified, typically grouped under the broader category of "Asian culture".

"But in reality, it's far more complex and detailed, with unique differences even between provinces," she explained. "There's so much more to it than what we see on TV."

Looking ahead, Cohen hopes to return to China with her family. "I want them to look beyond the pictures and experience China for themselves," she said. "The world isn't just what's online — you need to live it, feel it, and breathe it."

Contact the writers at mengwenjie@i21st.cn