[Photo/China Daily]

The event has proven fruitful for many Chinese families. Dong Cuiping, mother of 8-year-old Ma Yijia, said her daughter became more responsible and independent after taking part in the event.

She said her daughter came away impressed upon noticing that her German peers clean their tables after meals. Chinese students, she said, usually go out to play after eating.

Zhou Guanyu, mother of 9-year-old twins, said her daughters became more mature and improved on their manners.

But most importantly, many of the teens said they were touched by the music when they attended the event.

Zhao Jierong, 17, has been playing the drums since the age of 7 and attended the event last year. When she saw a marching band of teenage girls perform on Freudenstadt's main street, she jumped at the chance to join them.

"I saw they had a spare drum, so I asked with gestures if I could play and they welcomed me to join," she said.

"I don't speak German and they don't speak Chinese, but we played a song together and our rhythms totally matched. I also learned a few cool moves from them." Cheng Siqi, a 16-year-old pianist studying at Beijing's Middle School attached to the China Conservatory, said she enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere during her trip last year.

"My piano teacher studied in Germany, so I always wanted to go to Germany," she said. "I heard people playing music everywhere."

Jin Di, leader of a group of children from Jiangxi province, said the opportuniy to travel and study overseas is precious for children from the inland province.

"Our province is famous for porcelain, so I gave a blue and white porcelain vase to Freudenstadt's mayor as a gift last year. I hope more people will come to know we not only have porcelain, but also have many young talented musicians," she said.

The Black Forest, a forested mountain range in southwestern Germany, is known for its cuckoo clocks, Black Forest cake, fresh air and picturesque landscapes. Many stories from Grimms' Fairy Tales, including Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood, were based in the region.

Freudenstadt is a small ancient city with beautiful scenery in the northern part of the Black Forest. Several artists from around the world including Chinese pianists Li Yundi and Lang Lang have hosted concerts in the city.