Speaking to reporters on the sixth day of the tour, Kwan said the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region sits at the far western edge of China and has long played a vital role as a gateway between cultures throughout history.
She added that the region has seen rapid development in recent years, and she was glad students got to experience all of this firsthand.
“We looked at a lot of agricultural developments – cotton, for example, and fruit farming,” Kwan said.
“They got to see the production process with their own eyes, and I think that was really beneficial for them. They were really interested – they even went right into the fields and listened very attentively to the explanations. I think their understanding of Xinjiang has definitely deepened.”
She added that next year’s destination could also be a place with deep cultural and historic roots that is also experiencing rapid development.
Sichuan, she said, is currently under consideration.
