Thirteen high school students from Tennessee participated in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp sponsored by Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis. The students traveled to China in July 2008 and returned to Memphis on Aug 3 with Ying Xiong (Chinese Language Instructor) chaperon from CIUM.

During three weeks in China, the students learned Chinese Language, Chinese song, paper cutting, calligraphy, martial arts (Kungfu), Chinese traditional knitting with color pearl. They also visited Tiananmen, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Bird Nest (National Stadium where Olympic Games are holding), Heaven Temple, Zoo (Panda), Beijing Foreign Studies University, and some other scenery spots and historical sites in Beijing and Shaolin Temple, and the Provincial Museum in Henan.

In addition to their sightseeing adventures, they tasted Beijing roasted duck, dumplings, noodles soybean paste and many kinds of delicious Chinese food. They learned how to make dumpling by themselves. And they enjoyed the amazing Flying Acrobatics Show in Beijing, Kungfu Show and Zen Music Show in Henan.

Every camper received a special gift - a mascot of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and a set of Chinese cultures books from Confucius Institute Headquarters. The students experienced Chinese culture, family life and made a lot of friends over the three weeks. It was a once-in-a-life-time experience.

Chinese bridge Summer Camp is held for American high school students and is sponsored by Confucius Institute Headquarters. More than 200 students from USA participated in the program this year. CIUM will organize it yearly.