A TOTAL of 108 students and teachers from 18 cities around the world have arrived for the 2017 Shanghai International Sister Cities Youth Camp, kicking off with traditional Chinese games and folk performances at the Shanghai Great World entertainment center yesterday.

The foreign camp members were amazed by the hearty feast of traditional Chinese cultural activities, such as kicking shuttlecock, ring-toss, throwing sandbags, dragon and lion dance, paper cutting and string puppet performance.

Samukelisiwe Cebekhulu, a student from South Africa, tried paper-cutting at the century-old entertainment center which has been recently re-opened.

“It’s so hard for me to learn paper-cutting, but it’s amazing to see the craftsmen do it,” she said.

Cebekhulu said she was excited to take part in the camp, which began on Monday, as it was a great opportunity for her to closely and deeply learn about China and Shanghai, which were both just vague images to her previously.

She said she was looking forward to the two-week-long camp, especially tasting Chinese food.

Accompanied by 43 volunteers from local schools, participants will learn Chinese and experience Chinese culture, play games and visit scenic sites to build there understanding of China and Shanghai.

Initiated in 2009 by the Shanghai Education Commission to promote exchanges and cooperation between Shanghai and its sister cities and understanding and friendship between youth, the annual event has attracted more than 700 students and teachers from over 20 cities.