Relocating to China without any knowledge of the Chinese language created a lot of anxiety for Michail Pechlivanidis, a freshman from Greece. However, upon arrival at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) in Longgang District, his anxiety dissipated thanks to the helpful and friendly nature of the students and staff.

Pechlivanidis is one of the 240 international students from 16 countries enrolled in CUHK-Shenzhen’s undergraduate program this year

Newly admitted international students pose for a photo

The number of international freshmen at CUHK-Shenzhen reached a record high this year, accounting for almost 10% of the incoming class, according to the university. International students completed their registration at CUHK-Shenzhen on Monday and yesterday.

Additionally, around 130 international students will begin exchange programs at the university Aug. 25.

Newly enrolled international students and their families gathered for a group photo

Francisco Manna Melo Martinez, a 19-year-old freshman from Brazil, had not planned to study in China until he heard about the positive experiences that his father’s friends had in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

After researching universities in these cities online, he decided that CUHK-Shenzhen is most appealing to him because of its blend of Western educational approaches and Chinese culture.

He plans to major in global business and believes that studying in Shenzhen will provide him with a broader global perspective.

Punnathorn Khunhon, from Thailand, immediately fell in love with the campus upon his arrival.

“[The campus] is so big, clean, and green,” he said during an interview with Shenzhen Daily. Khunhon views CUHK-Shenzhen as a top-notch university and values the opportunity to immerse himself in Chinese traditions while learning from both international and local students.

Dana Kalambaeva, a freshman from Russia who plans to major in data science, shared that studying in China has always been her dream due to her admiration for the hardworking spirit of the Chinese people.

She chose CUHK-Shenzhen because of its English teaching environment and the chance to gain insight into Chinese culture.

Although it was Kalambaeva’s first time in Shenzhen, she was already familiar with the city, often referred to as “China’s Silicon Valley.”

“I love everything here. Everything is so green. I would love to explore different places in the future,” she added.

Konstantin Kozlov, a Russian freshman who was born in Shenzhen, said he never considered leaving the city for his studies. Kozlov will study psychology and was excited to get to know his classmates.

By Wang Jingli