16 Sep 2026
Recently, 12 outstanding undergraduates from financially disadvantaged families at ECUST traveled to the United States through the “Lixing International Program,” a financial-aid initiative that supported these students in overseas study tours. During the 18-day trip, they lived with host families, attended academic seminars, and shared Chinese culture, completing a cross-Pacific youth exchange.
For many, it was their first flight and first time abroad. Yaoxian Ma from Tianshui, Gansu, said the program gave him a chance to tell China’s stories to the world. Before departure, students prepared gifts including Chinese cultural souvenirs, ethnic handicrafts, and ECUST souvenirs. Tan Zhang from Guizhou said each gift carried the warmth of his hometown and alma mater.
Homestay life was a lesson in cross-cultural adaptation. Tan Zhang was nervous about speaking English, but his host grandmother slowed down and wrote words for him. Over time, he grew more confident.
The students completed 12 English seminars on topics including family structure, public safety, social services, and popular culture through debates, role-plays, and group presentations. They also visited local fire and police stations and public welfare organizations. Qi Xie, who had volunteered over 400 hours in China, sorted donated clothes and felt that the public service spirit transcended borders.
They visited UCLA, UC Riverside, and Pepperdine University, exchanging ideas with American students on courses, clubs, and campus culture. Xinyi Song noted that while club cultures differed, both countries offered fertile ground for students’ interests. The students also designed a three-week Shanghai study tour for American peers, reflecting on how to present Shanghai’s rich history and revolutionary heritage to international youth.
The trip culminated in a Chinese culture night. Students wore ethnic costumes, performed dances, and wrote “Harmony in Diversity” in calligraphy. They presented handmade invitation letters and explained the cultural significance behind paper-cutting, printing and dyeing, and other crafts. Host grandfather John said he was amazed by the love these young Chinese students have for their culture and vowed to visit China.
Mengying Xiao from the School of Materials Science and Engineering said the greatest gain was realizing where she comes from and her responsibility as a young ECUST student. Since 2025, ECUST and Arawana Charity Foundation have jointly launched the program to support outstanding students from low-income families.
After the program expanded from Singapore in 2025 to the United States in 2026, more students have become youth envoys of people-to-people exchange. Back on campus, they turned this experience into inner strength and resolved to contribute to the country through their expertise.
