Over two-week journey across Hubei province in Central China, 21 high school students from the United States were immersed in cultural discovery.

Capturing their experiences with camera lenses, paintbrushes, and more, the students reflected on their journey for an art exhibition that opened on Sunday in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The group included students from California and beyond who traveled to China during the summers of 2024 and 2025.

Their photographs and reflections are featured in "China in the Eyes of Americans", an exhibition now open to the public at the Cupertino Library.

Hosted by the US-China Culture and Communication Association, or UCCA, the exhibition includes photography, sketches and short narratives created during visits to Wuhan, Enshi, Xiaogan and surrounding areas.

Chloe Xiao, a sophomore at Valley Christian High School in California, said that participating in programs like this allows her to better understand not only the Chinese language, but also China's long history of civilization, its people and the unique charm of its intangible cultural heritage.

"In Enshi, we put on traditional Tujia attire, gaining first-hand experience of the elegance and rich heritage of the Tujia culture," Xiao said, adding that the silver hair ornaments and full sets of costumes were "gorgeous".

Jasmine White, a senior at Carlmont High School in California, focused her photography on bridges in Hubei, particularly the Yingwuzhou Yangtze River Bridge, which connects Wuhan and Dayu Myth Park.

"This trip taught me the significance of bridges in China," she said. "They represent connection: linking people, communities and cultures across generations." She added that she hoped to preserve those moments by "capturing the stories of each place".

For Benjamin Li, a sophomore from Florida, forming friendships made the experience especially meaningful.

"I met new friends in Enshi. We laughed, played games and had fun together," he said. "It made my summer unforgettable."

Aiden Wei Tanner, a senior from San Jose, California, compared his China trip with previous travels to Europe. "Those cities in Europe feel distinctly foreign. China is different," he said. "I felt part of the culture rather than an outsider."

"Those shared moments made the trip meaningful and unforgettable," he said.

For Iris Zhu, a freshman from California, the experience allowed the students to learn about China in ways that are rarely possible.

"This trip allowed us to learn about China in ways most people never do," Zhu said. "Seeing how China's traditions and culture differ from America's made the experience especially meaningful."

Song Min, president of UCCA, said he started the program six years ago out of a sense of urgency and necessity to connect young people from China and the US.

"When young people start to listen to their peers and learn from each other, great things will happen," he said.

Over the years, Song has worked closely with US students to design programs that reflect their interests and curiosity about China.

"In China, these American students are not only observers," Song added. "They are practitioners of cross-cultural communication."

Liang-Fang Chao, vice-mayor of Cupertino, encouraged the students to value the relationships they formed.

"What matters," she said, "is the friendship you made, the memories you brought back and the stories you shared with us."