Tibetan kids tour Beijing for Children's Day

Forty children from a welfare home in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Qinghai province, were invited to Beijing to tour the city and participate in educational exchange activities ahead of International Children's Day, which falls on June 1.

The children, aged between 7 and 16 from the Tibetan ethnic group, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday evening and will spend five days in the city. In addition to visiting places of interest including the Palace Museum, the National Stadium (also known as the Bird's Nest) and the Great Wall, they will also see exhibitions, performances and movies showcasing how people from different ethnic groups in China have fostered a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.

The activity that interests the children most is seeing the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square, they said. Norzin Lhamo said she has seen videos of people racing each other to secure a good spot to watch the ceremony, and she has been wishing to do the same.

"It must be so great to see the flag-raising ceremony in the heart of Beijing. I just can't wait," she said.

Dondrub Sangpo said he also wants to measure the Great Wall with his footsteps.

"Being in Beijing is already exciting enough for me. It's such a great opportunity," he said.

Because many children in the group are passionate about soccer, they have also been invited to join a training session of the Beijing Guoan FC youth team. As a bonus, they will serve as escorts during the home game of the club's Chinese Super League team at Workers' Stadium on Friday and see the team in action.

Wangkon Tashi, director of the welfare home, said the children are all very excited because it's the first time they have ever traveled so far and visited Beijing.

"I hope the children can see how exciting life can be so they can aim high in the future despite their backgrounds," Wangkon Tashi said.