Canadian university students and members of the program team pose for a group photo in front of a statue of Confucius in Beijing during a Chinese culture immersion program last fall. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Canadian university students who spent two weeks studying in Beijing this fall said their firsthand experience of China differed sharply from what they had encountered through Western media coverage.
"Looking back, I think what impressed me the most about China is the stark difference between how it's portrayed in our media and how it actually is," said Daniel William Ho.
Ho is a University of Waterloo student who took part in a Chinese culture immersion program at Beijing Normal University.
Ho said Beijing felt "safe, secure and the cleanest I've ever seen," adding that public transit was "on another world" and that the experience was "the most freeing and transformative two weeks in my university career."
For Conner Sherman Tye, a political science major, the trip reshaped how he viewed political discourse surrounding China. "Western media outlets nearly always portray China in a negative light, citing its problems as an indictment of the whole society," he said.
After speaking directly with people in Beijing, Tye said he found that Chinese people are actually much more politically informed than the average American or Canadian.
Other students emphasized how China's rapid development coexists with daily life and historical continuity. Gia-Thanh Yvonne Ly said her visit left her with a "far more nuanced and positive" understanding of the country than what she had encountered before arriving.
"From ancient temples and preserved cultural sites to innovative skyscrapers and carefully designed city layouts, the architectural landscape reflected a long and rich history as well as a strong sense of modern ambition," she said.
Ly also highlighted the efficiency of everyday systems, saying that "delivery services, transportation systems and digital payment methods were efficient, fast and widely integrated into routines," adding that "in many ways, everyday life felt more streamlined than what I am used to at home."
Perceptions around safety and social atmosphere were also frequently mentioned. Natalie Hermila Garcia Munoz, who has traveled to 24 countries, said Beijing stood apart. "The subway was incredibly advanced and efficient, and the city felt very safe, even late at night," she said.
For Mudupeola Aladetokunbo Caxton-Martins, Beijing's pace and community life left a lasting impression. "Everything just seemed to move so smoothly," he said, describing a city that was "busy at all hours of the day," where he felt comfortable going out even at 3 am.
Concerns about discrimination, particularly among students of color, were raised before the trip but often reassessed afterward.
"Being Black, I was warned about possible discrimination I may experience," said Aliyah Novia-Georgia Alexander-Tinker. "Fortunately, I had no reason to worry. I felt welcomed during my entire stay."
Caxton-Martins echoed that sentiment, saying, "The locals would try to talk to me, ask to take pictures, some shop owners were even giving me free food," an experience he said was "nothing like I had ever expected."
Canadian university students pose for a photo while wearing traditional Chinese attire during a cultural activity in Beijing as part of a Chinese culture immersion program last fall. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Several students said the visit prompted broader reflection on how opinions about China are formed.
"I believe there is a great deal of fear-mongering in Western discourse about China," Ly said, adding that direct experience showed her "a place full of warmth, innovation, history and everyday beauty."
Raine Mimoza Hutton said she returned home with "a completely unique perspective on China," noting that "all the negativity surrounding China in the news and media creates a significant overcast over all the amazing things the country has to offer."
The program was coordinated by Li Yan, an associate professor and coordinator of Chinese language and culture studies at Renison, University of Waterloo. She said the two-week immersion course was designed to allow students to "experience China with their own eyes."
"I hope to provide a special opportunity for students who have learned some basic Chinese but had never been to China to enhance their learning in the real Chinese environment and to experience China with their own eyes," she told China Daily.
Li said the timing and structure were intentional, with students studying Chinese in class every morning and spending afternoons and evenings on cultural activities and city tours.
"Since there are too many attractive scenes and historical spots in Beijing and the time is limited, I chose only the most representative ones for my students," she said.
She said the project was particularly relevant given the current media environment. "The old saying that 'seeing is believing' is the only solution," Li said.
According to Li, student feedback consistently pointed to a gap between expectation and reality. "Almost all of them expressed the feeling that there were huge gaps between what they had received from the Western media and what are the realities," she said.
That shift appears to have had lasting impact. "Almost everyone who has participated in the programs expressed the wish to come back to China for further study or work," Li said.
"I want very much to help them realize their dreams and to provide more opportunities for the young people to see the world," she said.
