CHINESE students are experiencing life in the North-East as part of an exchange visit.

The nine students from the Country Garden School in China's Guangdong Province are currently visiting Hummersknott Academy, in Darlington, along with their teacher.

The students arrived at the beginning of the week and have already paid a visit to the mayor, Councillor Gerald Lee, at the town hall, as well as visiting Beamish, York and Newcastle.

They are staying with the families of students at Hummersknott Academy to experience life in an English family.

Lau Hoi Shing, one of the visiting students, said: “Hummersknott Academy is very like our school in China. All the students here have been very kind and friendly to us.”

Jenny Wong, subject leader for Mandarin said: “The experience of participating in an Anglo Chinese exchange is quite rare and our students are extremely fortunate to have this opportunity.

“The learning of Mandarin is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s global society.”

Hummersknott Academy is one of 37 Confucius Classrooms across the country which offer lessons in Chinese.

Their students will visit China later this year.