From June 5 to 19, 2026, 30 American teenagers and 16 Chinese young people took part in a 15-day China–US Youth Exchange on Green Development, traveling through Chongqing, Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi.

In Gansu, Green Camel Bell (GCB) took the lead in organizing and coordinating the programme, bringing participants closer to the region’s ecological conservation and sustainable development initiatives.

Learning from nature and local communities

The Gansu programme offered much more than sightseeing. Participants visited the Giant Panda National Park, nature reserves, ecological restoration sites, and rural communities. They explored local approaches to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and green development.

Through cultural activities, conversations with local young people, and community-based experiences, participants also discovered the connections between environmental protection, traditional culture, and rural livelihoods.

Making connections beyond borders

For many participants, the most memorable moments came from direct interactions with local people.

“I often come back to China, but this trip was truly different. Staying with a local family in Gansu, attending classes with local students, and joining forest rangers on their patrols gave me a kind of face-to-face connection that no city tour could offer. I have never felt so close to China. These 15 days have been incredibly meaningful for me.”

“This summer programme helped me truly understand the meaning of learning Chinese. It is not just a language; it is a key that opens the door to another world. Every time I could communicate directly with local people in Chinese in Gansu, I felt that door opening a little wider. I will definitely work harder on my Chinese when I return home.”

Building bridges through green development

By connecting young people with real-world examples of renewable energy, ecological conservation, and sustainable development, the programme created opportunities for cross-cultural learning and mutual understanding.

For Green Camel Bell, this experience reaffirmed the importance of connecting environmental education with international youth exchange. We believe that meaningful dialogue begins when young people move beyond textbooks and tourism to experience local communities, understand different perspectives, and learn from one another.

We look forward to creating more opportunities for young people from China, the United States, and other parts of the world to connect through environmental protection and sustainable development.

Different backgrounds, shared responsibility for a greener future.