Twenty-eight teenagers from seven countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative toured China to learn about Chinese culture from May 13 to 25.

Starting from Xi’an, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, and passing through Beijing, Hangzhou (which is called the “paradise on earth”) in East China's Zhejiang province, and Fuzhou (the starting point of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road), East China's Fujian province, the journey ended in the romantic seaside city of Zhuhai.

Initiated in May 2017 by China Charity Federation, the youth hand in hand activity is under the guidance of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which aims to actively respond to and implement the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping to connect with countries along the route.

Xu Yixuan, head of the event, and Lu Qin, executive director of the event, give flags to teen representatives at the launching ceremony, May 13, 2018.

The teenagers visited Chinese schools and had classes in traditional Chinese culture and new technology.

At Tianchang Elementary School in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, teenagers from seven countries experienced a lesson in Chinese calligraphy under the theme of "Impressions of the Lotus in Different Colors". “This is the first time I ever tried brushstrokes, and I fell in love with calligraphy. I learned to write one Chinese character. I learned about the profound Chinese culture and I can’t wait to share it with my friends," a Cambodian participant named Sol said.

A Thai teenager paints a Terracotta Warriors at Xi’an Qujiang Primary School in Xi’an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province in May 2018.

After visiting the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, a Laotian girl said, “The building here has surprised me. I hope one day my hometown will have such a great building.” A Mongolian girl named Kun Lan said, “The Chinese campus is really beautiful. Studying here should be a very happy thing!"

A Vietnamese teenage boy tries calligraphy during a lesson at Tianchang Elementary School in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, in May 2018.

Teenagers from seven countries visit the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province, in May 2018.

Gu Xiulian, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress and director of China's Care for Next Generation Work Committee, spoke highly of this event in her speech at the closing ceremony. “I hope that after you return home, you could bring the seed of friendship to more friends, and work together to become little messengers on the “Belt and Road” to make peace forever," she said, encouraging the teens.

Gu Xiulian, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress and director of China's Care for Next Generation Work Committee, delivers a speech at the closing ceremony of the Belt and Road Initiative•Hand in Hand activity, Students from Seven Countries Touring China in Zhuhai, May 25, 2018.