A NORTH-East school has marked the first exchange in what it hopes is a long and fruitful relationship with a Chinese school.

Fifteen pupils aged 12 to 16 from Darlington’s Carmel College spent nine days on a cultural exchange trip at Xinhua High School in Tianjin, northern China.

The youngsters stayed with student hosts enabling them to experience family life first-hand.

While in school they enjoyed lessons in Mandarin, calligraphy, Chinese art, printing, Tai Chi, and mask painting and cookery among others.

They also enjoyed visits to Tianjin University, museums, a riverboat cruise, the zoo and a classical music concert.

Three days were spent in Beijing visiting significant sites including Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and taking in a Kung Fu show.

The students were accompanied by teachers Simon Hannaford, head of PE, and Marielle Thonnart, who is the international coordinator for Carmel College.

Mr Hannaford described the trip as a fantastic opportunity for Carmel pupils to experience the Chinese culture and meet and make friends with young people from China.

Ms Thonnart added: “They all had a wonderful time and can't wait for the Xinhua students to visit Darlington, early next year.”

This was the first exchange visit in the partnership between the two schools and it is hoped it will become an annual exchange.