US Students Embark on Pickleball Adventure in China: Thirty-one student-athletes from Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland, USA, are visiting China from April 9 to 21 for a pickleball-themed cultural exchange. Their pickleball trip includes friendly sports matches and hands-on cultural experiences in cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
The visit aims to deepen understanding and build friendships between American and Chinese students. On April 11, the group spent a full day in Shanghai engaging in cultural and educational activities. Their morning began at Luwan Middle School with a high-tech welcome, including a robot dog dance and soccer-playing robots. They also explored a holographic classroom and practiced traditional crafts such as paper-cutting and fan painting. Chinese students performed songs and dances, and students from both countries exchanged meaningful gifts.
A Day of Culture in Shanghai
At Luwan Middle School, the American students were greeted warmly. They watched robotic demonstrations and entered a 3D classroom. They tried Chinese paper crafts and painted fans. Chinese students sang and danced, offering a glimpse into their daily life. Small gifts were exchanged as symbols of friendship.
In the afternoon, the group visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center. Using virtual tools, they learned how the city developed over time. Later, they toured the Huangpu Intangible Cultural Heritage Center. There, they made traditional kites and learned to craft frog buttons for cheongsam dresses, gaining new skills through direct interaction.
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An Enchanting Evening
As night fell, the students walked through Yuyuan Garden. With its glowing pavilions and peaceful moonlight, the garden was a highlight. Many stopped to take photos or talk with local visitors, enjoying the calm beauty of the historic site.
Pickleball and Friendship
The group will play friendly pickleball matches throughout their journey. Each game is a chance to share athletic skills and connect across cultures. MCPS is one of the first US school systems to make pickleball a varsity sport.
According to MCPS Systemwide Athletics Director Jeffrey Sullivan,
“The purpose of this trip is far beyond representing MCPS or the state of Maryland; it’s about standing for the US and building unbreakable friendships that transcend borders through sport.”
Why This Trip Matters
This journey helps students learn about another culture by seeing it for themselves. Through shared games and hands-on activities, they build friendships and respect. The mix of sports and culture helps bring the two countries closer. More trips like this could follow, creating even stronger bonds through pickleball and youth exchange.
News in Brief: US Students Embark on Pickleball Adventure in China
Thirty-one student-athletes from Maryland’s MCPS are on a cultural pickleball trip in China from April 9-21. They visited Shanghai’s schools, museums, and gardens, and took part in traditional Chinese crafts. The goal is to build cross-cultural friendships through sports, with friendly pickleball matches in Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
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