Similar reactions have come from participants in the "50,000 in Five Years" initiative. For these young participants, exchanges do not end with their return flights. Luke Kelly, a graduate of Steilacoom High School who took part in a study visit to China in 2024, shared that after returning home he told his family and friends that he wanted to come back and bring them with him.

　　Anna Colbaugh from Lincoln High School has continued to communicate with Chinese friends on WeChat. Before her trip, she said, her understanding of China had been shaped largely by "one-sided stereotypes." Visiting the country allowed her to form her own impressions, which she could then share with people around her.

　　Qian has also witnessed this sustained impact through follow-up surveys: most American camp participants continued studying Putonghua after returning home, with measurable improvements in their language proficiency. Many of her US students have since enrolled at top US universities, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

　　From encounter to mutual understanding

　　Chinese high school students stage their own performance with the guidance of American university students for the 2026 International (US-China) Youth Cultural Exchange Program in Xi"an, Shaanxi Province, on July 13, 2026. Photo: Courtesy of Wu Qin

　　Recently, a report released by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that most younger Americans do not see China as a "critical threat" to the US and favor a policy of cooperation and engagement. The report carries a clear-cut headline: "Gen Z Isn"t Concerned About China," noting that younger Americans were less likely than older generations to characterize China as a competitor or adversary.

　　An April 2026 Pew Research Center poll also found more favorable views of China among Americans.