The Experience China: 2018 China Cultural Center Students Award Tour was launched in Beijing on Monday.

The event selects 48 excellent students from 18 China Cultural Centers in 18 cities from all over the world, including Paris, Bangkok and Madrid, to experience a tour of Beijing and other cities in China which will last until Aug 27.

The project, which was first held in 2003, has been co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism alongside the Network of International Cultural-link Entities.

The students will get a chance to visit China's famous cultural heritage sites like the Great Wall, as well as several museums, including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China, cultural industry parks, like the 798 Art Zone, and other representative places. The idea is for them to gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese civilization. They are also to participate in programs that will see them experience some of China's intangible cultural heritage.

The students are all outstanding registered learners of the Chinese language, calligraphy or painting, as well as martial arts, and other aspects of traditional Chinese culture.

Since the inaugural Chinese Cultural Center was opened in 1998, a further 35 more have been established. Some centers were co-supported by the ministry and local governments, therefore, the winning students will also visit the provinces which support their respective programs.