China's First International Students.

FOREIGN study; CHINESE students in foreign countries; QING dynasty, China, 1644-1912; FOREIGN language education; MINERAL industries; RAILROADS; TELEGRAPH & telegraphy

The article recalls the foreign student programme of the Chinese Qing government to the U.S. in the 1870s. Topics discussed include the role of the need for foreign language proficiency amid foreign situations in the launch of the programme, decision of the Qing government to terminate the programme due to the integration of the students into American life, and emergence of the international students as pioneers in mining, railway and telegraph industries in China.