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Ann Nicholson had been counting the days to her first summer camp in China.

"I'm interested in Chinese culture and would like to know more about it. Also, I'm taking Chinese language courses and hoping to improve my reading," said the 17-year-old from Detroit who is participating in the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp for US High School Students in Beijing.

Summer camps for international students in June and July have grown in popularity and allow participants to enjoy China’s scenic sites while experiencing the country’s culture.

Nicholson's camp was organized by Hanban, the headquarters for Confucius Institutes and Beijing Royal School, a private school that offers international courses to primary and middle-school students.

The camp, which started on July 18, is catering to 624 high school students and 74 chaperones.

The students are divided into groups and will visit many provinces and regions, including Tianjin, Shandong, Jilin, Henan, Zhejiang and Guangxi, during their 18-day stay in China.

Apart from visiting scenic spots, Hanban staff members and teachers from Beijing Foreign Studies University will give lectures on how to prepare for the Chinese Proficiency Test and details of getting the Confucius Institute scholarship and the introduction of Chinese culture.

"I'm especially interested in China's history and did a lot of research on the Terracotta Warriors before coming," said Nicholson, who has studied Chinese for three years. "China is an increasingly growing power in the world and I would like to study here if there's an opportunity."

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.