A foreign student takes a photo with his host family from Hangzhou. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Over 30 high school students from Germany and France recently joined their Chinese peers at Hangzhou Xuejun High School's Xixi campus for a week of cultural exchange and homestay experiences.

The students, from schools including Germany's Krefeld Consortium and France's Lycee d'Alsace in Paris, immersed themselves in Chinese life — from exploring local landmarks to tasting Chinese cuisine. They also joined Chinese students in activities such as calligraphy, tea culture experiences, and classroom interactions.

The highlight was a joint talent show on April 9, featuring performances from all three countries — Chinese folk music, German and French songs, dramas, and a multilingual quiz. With AR glasses enabling real-time translation, students communicated freely and celebrated their shared creativity.

Through music, sports, and day-to-day life, the short exchange deepened mutual understanding and built lasting friendships. "This experience brought students closer together and created lasting memories," said Xuejun's vice-principal Xu Yueming.

A foreign student reads with a member of his host family. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]