Exchange to China

Each spring, the National Committee selects twelve nationally-recognized American high school graduates to participate in the annual U.S.-China Student Leaders Exchange (SLE). The heart of the program is a two-week study visit to China during the summer between high school and college, during which participants learn about China’s successes and challenges. Home stays with host families also provide exceptional opportunities for participants to meet and exchange ideas with their Chinese counterparts.

The National Committee has run the program since 2004. Through 2013, the program was open exclusively to U.S. Presidential Scholars, a designation annually conferred upon up to 161 American graduating high school seniors nationwide by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2014, the program was opened to the 40 Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalists (formerly known as Intel STS Finalists), as well. In choosing participants, the Committee gives preference to applicants who have not been to China before and/or who have had only limited exposure to the country.

Exchange to the United States

In 2007, the Student Leaders Exchange also began bringing twelve outstanding Chinese senior high school students to the United States for two weeks. The U.S. visit included many of the same types of activities enjoyed by the students’ American counterparts: homestays, student-student interactions, university and high school visits, traditional sightseeing, etc. The program also included a community service component. The program to the States ran again in 2012 and 2013, but is currently on hiatus


In 2014, the Yihai Group North America became the exclusive funder of the Student Leaders Exchange to China. The National Committee grateful to Yihai for its generous support.

2018 Student Leaders Exchange
July 7, 2018 to July 25, 2018

The 2018 SLE took place July 7-25, including a three-day, informative pre-departure orientation outside of San Francisco. The itinerary included stops in Beijing, Guizhou Province (Guiyang), and Sichuan Province (Chengdu). 

Participants in the 2018 SLE:
– Enjoyed exceptional opportunities to engage with Chinese students
– Lived with Chinese families to experience daily life in a Chinese home
– Delved into China’s contemporary culture, history, and society through briefings with China experts and visits to important institutions
-Took in the sights of modern and ancient China

2017 Student Leaders Exchange
July 9, 2017 to July 26, 2017

The 2017 SLE took place July 9-26, and included a two-day informative pre-departure orientation outside of San Francisco. The itinerary included stops in Beijing, Guizhou Province (Guiyang), and Sichuan Province (Chengdu and Beichuan). 

Participants in the 2017 SLE:
– Enjoyed exceptional opportunities to engage with Chinese student counterparts
– Lived with Chinese families
– Delved into China’s contemporary culture, history, and society 
– Took in the sights of modern and ancient China

2016 Student Leaders Exchange
July 12, 2016 to July 29, 2016

The 2016 SLE took place July 12-29, including a two-day informative pre-departure orientation in San Francisco. The itinerary included stops in Beijing, Guizhou Province (Guiyang), and Sichuan Province (Chengdu and Beichuan). 

Participants in the 2016 SLE:
– Enjoyed exceptional opportunities to engage with Chinese student counterparts
– Lived with Chinese families
– Delved into China’s contemporary culture, history, and society 
– Took in the sights of modern and ancient China

2015 Student Leaders Exchange
July 6, 2015 to July 23, 2015

The 2015 SLE took place July 6-23, including a two-day mandatory pre-departure orientation in San Francisco. With an itinerary that included visits in Beijing, Sichuan Province (Chengdu and Beichuan) and Hunan Province (Yueyang), participants explored vastly different parts of China. Through a series of activities, site visits, and briefings, including those with experts and government officials, participants learned about China’s environmental protection efforts, governance and economy, culture and history, present-day successes and challenges, and more.

To get a sense of what SLE participants experience, review an SLE sample itinerary and watch an SLE participant’s video.