Exchange of Teachers and Students between American High Schools of North & West Niles and BJSDFZ

From July 1st to 3rd, American youth delegation "Youth Together" visited our school for a lively cultural exchange with our teachers and students. The visiting delegation was a branch of American youth exchange group "Youth Peer" jointly sponsored by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the China Tourism Group -- consisting of 39 students and 3 teachers from North Niles High School and West Niles High School in the United States.

The exchange delegation "Youth Together" was warmly encouraged by President Xi Jinping, who expressed his hope that through this visit, the students would perceive, experience, and understand China, interact with Chinese youth, and become good partners and friends.

On the afternoon of July 2, Principal Wang Liping, Assistant Principal Xu Lan, and all teachers from the International Department held a warm  welcoming ceremony for the American teachers and students at the Black Box Theater  on the West Campus. Ye Zi, Director of the NGO Department of the CPAFFC, Zhuang Hanjie, President of the U.S.–China Youth Student Exchange Association, Mr. Zhu Zeping, Assistant to the President, and Liu Hongshi, Deputy General Manager of the China International Travel Service Head Office of the China Tourism Group, attended the ceremony.

Principal Wang Liping introduced our school's long history and tradition of international cultural exchange to the visiting American teachers and students. She expressed her hope that, through this exchange—“using culture to inspire and art to connect hearts”—Chinese and American teachers and students would build deep friendships and achieve mutual understanding.

Director Amini from North Niles High School of the United States also delivered a speech, expressing that the American students were delighted to participate in this project and looked forward to welcoming our teachers and students to the United States for future exchanges.

At the end of the welcome ceremony, student representatives from both China and the United States exchanged gifts symbolizing friendship between the two schools. Subsequently, under the guidance of student volunteers, American students embarked on a vibrant cultural journey. Teachers combined traditional culture with modern technology to create vivid and engaging experiential courses for the visitors.

At the West Campus,  a series of engaging sports activities were in full swing— Huang Zhanning's Tai Chi, Wei Gang's Ba Duan Jin, Hua Feiyang's Kung Fu Fitness, and Kang Yu's Table Tennis. American and Chinese students engaged in  friendly matches, sharing their youth and enthusiasm through sports.

At the East Campus, distinctive courses integrating traditional and modern elements received high praise from the visitors— Teacher Yuan Lin's Introduction to Chinese Language, Teacher Zhu Shujuan's Old Beijing Sandbag Game, Teacher Zhang Zhiyuan's Guqin Experience, Teacher Zhang Lushan's Cultural Integration in the Forbidden City, Teacher Rui Lei's The World Inside the Eggshell, and Teacher Wang Chenxi's Cultural and Creative Design at BJSDFZ. Each unique class broadened horizons and enriched the students’ learning experience.

Beyond the on-campus exchanges, representatives from our junior and senior high divisions joined North and West Niles students on a meaningful world heritage exploration, experiencing the cultural charm of the Palace Museum and the Juyongguan Great Wall together.

The magnificent Forbidden City offered a vivid window into China’s traditional art and history. Under the guidance of professional tour guides, students  explored the palace grounds, listened to its legendary stories, and deepened their understanding of Chinese culture through lively cultural exchange.

At the foot of the Great Wall at Juyongguan, Chinese and American teachers and students not only witnessed the magnificent scenery of the Great Wall, but also gained an in-depth understanding of the historical importance and great value of the Great Wall as an important symbol of Chinese history and culture. At the top of the Great Wall, our teachers and students joined hands with American classmates to sing "On the Field of Hope" in Chinese. The melodious tune and infectious lyrics of this song not only showcased the harmonious atmosphere of cultural exchange between the two countries but also symbolized the friendship and hope between the youth of the two countries. The singing echoed across the mountains, becoming an unforgettable moment in this cultural exchange activity.

This three-day cultural exchange event, although brief, had profound meaning. The student representatives from Affiliated Middle School  Beijing Normal University, as well as North and West Niles Middle Schools, witnessed the vitality of cultural exchanges between China and the United States, demonstrating the younger generation's respect and appreciation for cultural diversity, and their beautiful vision for building a harmonious world. The event deepened the friendship between young people from both nations and built a bridge for lasting cultural understanding. The American students expressed their wish to share their experiences back home so that more people could learn about China.

We look forward to the day when Chinese and American educators and students can once again gather to celebrate the brilliance of world civilization.