International students say 'yes' to China

One of his most memorable encounters was not with a technology company or a landmark, but on the metro.

During a long ride, Copeland Costanzo decided to read a book. When he sat down, a high school girl noticed it, asked to take pictures of the book, and struck up a conversation with him.

Their language skills were limited: her English was basic, while, as he jokingly put it, his Chinese was worse. But she was still eager to learn about him.

The encounter left him particularly impressed by China's friendliness and openness.

"If I had to rank China in any category, it would be number one in the 'most friendly' countries I've been to," he says.

Saparat had a similar sense of finding common ground with people from different backgrounds.