QINGDAO -- Ten students from California State University Long Beach have arrived in Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province as part of the first wave of groups from the United States to attend exchange programs in China over the next five years.

Qingdao is hosting a five-day exchange program providing a vibrant and welcoming environment for the visiting American students.
Qingdao City and Long Beach became sister cities in 1985 and established sister port relationship in 1997. The two cities formed their special ties largely because they are both port cities.

The sister city relationship established between Long Beach and Qingdao City facilities mutual understanding between people of the two nations.

Every corner of Qingdao holds new and exciting experiences for the students, with vibrant lights that fill the streets, grand shopping malls with impressive screens, and captivating water scenery. It is a world of discovery awaiting their exploration.

The visit is an opportunity for these young minds to build connections and cultivate lasting friendships.
"I think it's important for our cultures to come together, especially with the U.S. and China, since we’re one of the bigger countries in the whole world," one California State University Long Beach student said.
"I would like to talk to Chinese people and see what their life is like that kind of thing," said another student.
The young ambassadors are poised to immerse themselves in an environment that goes beyond what they have learned from textbooks and the Internet. Their journey in China promises to be a transformative experience, fostering cross-cultural understanding and paving the way for a brighter future of cooperation between the United States and China.