Overseas students get a bird's view of the container terminal at Dalian Port. [Photo by Zhang Xiaomin/ chinadaily.com.cn]

Stacy Julius was excited to get a bird's eye view of the container terminal at Dalian Port, one of the busiest ports in China.

"How can we enjoy tax exemption at bonded areas? Is logistics convenient?" The 28-year-old student from South Africa kept asking questions in fluent Chinese during her visit on Friday.

Julius is studying her international trade doctorate at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE). She has been studying in China for 10 years.

Together with Julius, 89 overseas students from five universities in Dalian visited the Jinpu New Area, a state-level new area in Northeast China's Liaoning province, from June 17 to 18.

They all got scholarships from the China Scholarship Council (CSC), a non-profit organization affiliated to the Ministry of Education that provides financial assistance to Chinese wishing to study abroad and foreigners wishing to study in China.

As part of the Perceiving China program organized by the CSC, the activities in Dalian were co-sponsored by the publicity department of the CPC Dalian Committee and DUFE.

The students visited the Dalian Gona Technology Group Co factory, a high-end numerical control machine tools manufacturer.

They learned Chinese calligraphy and seal cutting techniques with local citizens at the Haiqing Community.

They also picked cherry at a farm and discovering what modern agriculture has brought to local residents.

"We communicated with local people and felt the energetic growth of the Jinpu New Area. I wish to promote trade and communication between the two countries after graduation," said Julius.

Last year, 3,000 overseas students from 32 universities participated in the CSC's Perceiving China activities. This year, more students are expected to join.