Students from Xieyite Primary School in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region visit the Taiyuan Youth Palace on Aug 19 in Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Thirty students and teachers from Xieyite Primary School in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region arrived in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, on Wednesday to take part in a weeklong youth friendship camp.

The Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League organized the program to bring together young people from different parts of the country. Shanxi volunteer representatives from the national "Go West" program, which sends young talents to support development in China's western regions, attended the opening ceremony at the Taiyuan Youth Palace.

At the ceremony, Gulizeya Tuokebayi, a 12-year-old student from Xieyite, spoke about the warm welcome her group had received. "The teachers and students here have been so warm and friendly," she said. "The moment we arrived, we felt their care for us. Every one of us will keep this friendship in our hearts."

Gulizeya also talked about her hometown of Artux in Xinjiang. "There are vast lands, kind people from all ethnic groups, and sweet fruits," she said, adding that she hoped more Shanxi students would get to know Xinjiang better.

On the first day of the camp, the group visited the Shanxi Bronze Museum to get a close look at ancient Chinese ritual and music culture. They also learned how to make noodles in the Shanxi style.

Nuerzhatibieke, an 11-year-old student from Xieyite, was struck by the similarities and differences between the food cultures of the two regions. "At home we often eat naan, laghman (hand-pulled noodles with stir-fried toppings) and pilaf. The knife-cut noodles and kaolaolao (steamed oat noodle rolls) here are made in very different ways," he said. "But noodles are an essential part of daily life for people of all ethnic groups."

During the weeklong program, the Xieyite students will pair up with local youth in Taiyuan and Datong for joint visits and activities. The organizers hope the exchange will help young people from different ethnic groups build lasting bonds and deepen mutual understanding.

Chen Shuo contributed to this story.