What kind of China are young Americans actually seeing?

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Since the launch of the "50,000 in Five Years" initiative, more and more young Americans have come to China for exchange and study, challenging stereotypes through their firsthand experiences. With fluent Chinese and a deep familiarity with Chinese social media and video platforms such as WeChat and Bilibili, Witherspoon Alexander Temple, an American PhD candidate at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), says that while Chinese and American young people may have different memes and different senses of humor, they are ultimately very similar: practical and fun. BFSU professor Andy Mok says there is a gap between the China people imagine and the China they encounter in real life, as more young people are getting a chance to see the latter for themselves. And for American students coming to China, BFSU associate research fellow Wang Yan has a warm message: Try new things, travel, and make the most of it! Watch the video for more, and don't miss the “Easter egg” at the end!

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