During the 2026 summer vacation, a 22-member delegation from the Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics and Dance Academy spent six days in Xizang on an exchange visit. They took in the region’s spectacular scenery, danced side by side with young people in Xizang, arrived with a sense of eager anticipation, and left already talking about coming back. They were far more than visitors. They became a window, a bridge and a voice to the wider world, using what they saw and experienced firsthand to break through preconceived notions and share a real, vivid and multifaceted Xizang with the world.
A group photo of Chinese and U.S. young people at the Xizang Youth Palace
For years, Western media coverage of Xizang has often been shaped by ideological bias, interpreting the region through a “conflict frame” that presents a partial and sensationalized picture. Exchanges between young people from China and the United States offer an opportunity to experience Xizang firsthand, allowing what they see and hear for themselves to replace imagined narratives. When American and Chinese young people learn Tibetan calligraphy together, play traditional Tibetan instruments and talk about life at school, they experience more than a culture—they meet the people who bring that culture to life.
U.S. young people learn and practice Reba dance with children from Xizang
U.S. young people practice Tibetan calligraphy alongside children at the Xizang Youth Palace
U.S. young people practice Tibetan calligraphy alongside children at the Xizang Youth Palace
“I’ve always believed that young people are the best bridge between different countries and cultures. Many American children may have learned about Xizang in the past through books, the Internet or the media. This time, we wanted to bring them here for a firsthand experience—to see Xizang with their own eyes, hear it with their own ears and feel it with their hearts.” Chen Xizhen, chair of the Education Committee of the Oregon China Council and CEO of the Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics and Dance Academy, said, “When these children return to the United States, they will share what they have seen and the stories they have experienced firsthand with their parents, classmates, teachers and friends. One child can influence a family, and one family can in turn reach many more people.”
U.S. student Samantha learns to play the traditional Tibetan dranyen.
These American students, many of whom were visiting Xizang for the first time, saw firsthand its modern urban infrastructure, friendly people, open and inclusive atmosphere, and the ways its ethnic cultures are being carried on and preserved. In just a few days, Eden Appel Kaplan went from knowing little about Xizang to becoming an enthusiastic fan of its culture. “This is my third time visiting China, but Xizang is my favorite place. I want to bring Reba dance back to the United States and incorporate it into our own dance, so that my classmates who haven’t been here can learn it too.” Speaking fluent Chinese, Eden, who has already been admitted to Peking University, hopes to have the chance to return to Xizang.
U.S. student Eden views an art exhibition at the School of Arts of Xizang University featuring works that blend different artistic traditions.
Exchanges between young people play a unique and irreplaceable role in shaping the image of China. They are not only the builders of the future, but also some of today’s most active cultural ambassadors. At the heart of such exchanges is telling real stories in the language of youth. In subtle and natural ways, they help people overseas see China as a country that is approachable, admirable and trustworthy. In 2025, Xizang welcomed 70.7337 million domestic and international tourists, including 437,400 inbound visitors, up 36.5 percent year on year. In recent years, as more young people from China and other countries have become friends through dance and formed personal connections, and as more foreign visitors have traveled to Xizang to see it for themselves, a real, vivid and multifaceted image of China is gradually unfolding before the world.
Robin Rogers, treasurer of the Oregon China Council, records a traditional musical instrument class for Chinese students at the Xizang Youth Palace.
“At my age, I’ve seen politics come and go and the world change like wheat swaying in the wind. Everything can change in an instant. Yet only genuine friendship can stand the test of time. When I see young people from China and the United States cross the ocean and embrace each other with such sincerity, I am convinced that no matter how turbulent the world becomes, human kindness will always find a way forward. Because friendship lasts forever, and that enduring friendship is all the more reason to believe in a better future,” said Robin Rogers, treasurer of the Oregon China Council.
Editor：Bella Wu
