"Junior Cultural Ambassadors" Engage in Exchange Visits in Beijing and Shanxi

From June 30 to July 8, 33 "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" from 19 countries were invited to China for the 2025 China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" Exchange Program. They participated in cultural studies and exchange visits in Beijing and Shanxi.

In Beijing, the "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" visited cultural landmarks such as the Forbidden City, Qianmen Street, and the Great Wall to appreciate their historical significance, and explored iFlytek to experience the charm of technology. In Shanxi, they visited historical sites including the Yungang Grottoes and Huayan Temple, touching the imprint of millennia-old civilizations.

During the program, the "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" immersed themselves in excellent traditional Chinese culture. They experienced intangible cultural heritage skills such as Peking Opera, calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, tie-dye, and the tea ceremony, and learned culinary skills like making dumplings, zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), and hand-shaved noodles. Additionally, they co-hosted a "Chinese Food Impressions" salon with students from the University of International Business and Economics and the China Welfare Institute, engaging in discussions and exchanges on Chinese and foreign dietary cultures. These diverse experiences and exchange activities further deepened their understanding of China.

The "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" from various countries spoke highly of the program, thanking the organizers for the thoughtful arrangements and expressing that they gained immensely from the trip. Clementina Deane from the United States shared: "In today's world, there are many misunderstandings and prejudices between China and the U.S., and among nations worldwide. People are becoming increasingly divided and guarded against each other. We need cultural exchange programs like the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's 'Junior Cultural Ambassadors' to provide opportunities for face-to-face interaction." Jansu Du from Fiji stated: "This program was not only a stage for cultural display but also a valuable learning journey, allowing me to deeply study and understand many aspects of Chinese culture. I look forward to inheriting and promoting the friendship between Fiji and China!" Wen Zheyu from China reflected: "This exchange journey made me realize that cultural dissemination is never a one-way display. It is about joining friends from around the world, touching history, experiencing traditions, and feeling innovation together—allowing different stories to take root in each other's hearts and letting friendship grow roots that span mountains and seas in the soil of culture."

The China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" program is organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and co-hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Science & Technology and Culture Exchange Center for Young People and various overseas Chinese Cultural Centers. Since its inception in 2021, the program has been successfully held for four consecutive years. Under the theme "Bridge of Friendship, Envoys of Culture," it invites outstanding video submissions from eligible teenagers worldwide. Over the past four years, over a thousand teenagers from 64 countries have participated, building a platform for young people both in China and abroad to showcase themselves, share their voices, promote culture, and enhance mutual exchange.