A US student tries to beat the traditional Chinese drum after the demonstration by the teacher. [Photo/fo.xm.gov.cn]
A group of five students from Baltimore, the United States, visited Xiamen from July 25 to 29, to sample some traditional elements of Chinese culture.
Headed by Danny Evans, vice-chairman of Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee, they took part in a series of lessons to learn how to draw a wash painting, beat a traditional Chinese drum, cut figures out of papers, and play ping pong and tai chi.
Accompanied by local students, the US students also visited the venue for the BRICS Summit held last year in Xiamen, the Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Xiamen University - one of China's top universities, and Gulangyu Island, which was approved as a world cultural heritage site in July 2017.
Kolby Lewis, one of the five US students, was deeply impressed by the beautiful city and its delicious delicacies after the trip.
The vice-chairman said that this activity helped the US students learn about the great cultural differences between China and the US and also enhance the friendly relations between Xiamen and Baltimore.
Baltimore established a sister-city relationship with Xiamen in November 1985, becoming the Chinese city's fourth sister city.
The US and Chinese students pose for a group photo while visiting Gulangyu Island. [Photo/fo.xm.gov.cn]
China has decided to extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom starting from Feb 17.
Forty-one new port-of-entry duty-free shops have been established nationwide, with Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, and Xiamen International Cruise Center included on the list.
