International students say 'yes' to China

"I truly believe that I cannot judge a place without having lived, or at least experienced, it," he says.

China also offered him a chance to broaden his international network. Copeland Costanzo, who has Mexican, Italian and US nationalities, says he hopes to build connections that could eventually help strengthen ties between his home countries and China.

Shenzhen was initially something of an accidental destination, he says, but the city quickly exceeded his expectations. He had heard it being described as China's technology capital and was especially encouraged by positive comments from businesspeople and diplomats he had met in Europe.

After nearly a week in China, he says the country had "completely outdone" his expectations.