At the reception, students eagerly shared their fresh summer memories, the new buzzwords they had learned from their Chinese peers, and how they had tried to haggle over prices in local markets.

　　A student reflecting on a visit to Dalian said, "At that moment, I couldn't feel our differences. Instead, I felt our common ground. We were equally friendly and kind."

　　Students from Queen Mary's Grammar School in Walsall, England, who visited Shanghai, said the trip had strengthened their motivation to continue learning Mandarin. "This trip has given our Mandarin learning journey a tremendous boost and we are determined to keep learning and improving," they said.

　　They added that the experience captured the essence of cultural exchange: "Learning from each other, sharing experiences and building friendships between Britain and China."

Attendees pose for a group photo at the reception in London on Thursday hosted by the education section of the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom for students in the Mandarin Excellence Program, to celebrate the completion of their summer study trips to China. Zheng Wanyin / China Daily

　　Liao Enli contributed to this story