In 1863, in the second year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty, because of the realization of the country's shortcomings, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzhang and others, who were famous ministers in the Qing Dynasty, jointly went to the imperial court and asked the imperial court to approve the selection of some students to study abroad. 
Emperor Tongzhi like Li Hongzhang said in the recital: "The selection of foreign students is really the foundation of China's self-improvement." I hope to learn the advanced knowledge of Western countries to save the country. Qing ** immediately played accurately, and soon implemented a complete set of study abroad programs. 
In 1896, Li Hongzhang took a photo in the United States.
From 1872 to 1875, the Qing Dynasty sent four batches of 120 students to study in the United States. 
Their average age is 12 and a half years old, mainly in Guangdong (84) and Jiangsu (21). 
These young children are neither from the Shijin Xian family nor from poor families, but from relatively wealthy and civilized farmers and families related to foreign affairs, and have a certain knowledge of Chinese. 
They were assigned to more than 40 American homes in the New England region of the northeastern United States, and quickly adapted to life in the United States. 
A group photo of the young children in the United States and their host families at the time, who overcame the language barrier at an astonishing speed and became high-achieving students in various schools. 
Zhan Tianyou. In 1872, at the age of 12, Zhan Tianyou studied in the United States, and in 1878, he was admitted to the Department of Civil Engineering of Yale University, majoring in railway engineering. He is an expert in modern railway engineering in China and is known as the first chief railway engineer in China. He was responsible for the construction of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway and other projects, and is known as the "father of China's railways" and "the father of China's modern engineering".
In 1878, at the age of 19, Huang Kaijia. After returning to China, he successively served as Sheng Xuanhuai's secretary, the manager of the China Merchants Steamship Bureau, the general office of the Telegraph Bureau, and the assistant to the Chinese commissioner at the 1894 St. Louis Exposition in the United States.
Huang Yaochang in 1873. After returning to China, he was assigned to Shanghai, and later participated in the construction of the railway, and served as the manager of the Beijing section of the Beijing-Hankou railway.
In 1876, in the United States, Zhou preached. After returning to China, he participated in the construction of the Beijing-Shenyang Railway, and later worked in various railways, mines, and commercial departments, and retired to Shanghai.
In 1874, 14-year-old Wu Yangzeng. After returning to China, he went to the United Kingdom to study mining engineering, and then worked in Nanjing, Zhejiang, Zhili and other places, at the end of the Qing Dynasty, he served as the deputy chief examiner of returned students from Europe and the United States, and was awarded a doctor of science by the Qing Dynasty.
In 1874, in the United States at the age of 17 Liang Dunyan. After returning to China, he first went to Tianjin Telegraph School to teach, and then served as Zhang Zhidong's staff in Guangdong and Hubei, and successively served as Hankou and Hanyang Customs Daotai, Tianjin Customs Daotai, ** Chief, Chairman of the Bank of Communications, and Minister Plenipotentiary in Europe and the United States.
They quickly adapted to the foreign culture, took off their robes and coats, and became active in various sports.
In 1878, a group photo of the baseball team composed of young children in the United States. Back row, from left: Cai Shaoji, Zhong Juncheng, Wu Zhongxian, Zhan Tianyou, Huang Kaijia; Front row, from left: Chen Jurong, Li Guipan, Liang Dunyan, Kwong Wing-chung.
They are students at Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and MIT.
When the world pattern changed drastically, they happened to be sent to the forefront of that industrial revolution.
However, when half of the children began their college studies, the Qing Dynasty abruptly terminated the study abroad program early and issued a decree to withdraw all students from the United States.
These students, who have been influenced by European wind and rain, are the pioneers of China's mining, railway, and telegraph industries.
Zhan Tianyou, the father of China's railways and the father of China's modern engineering.
They are the first presidents of Tsinghua University and Tianjin University, the first batch of diplomats in China, and the first premier of China.
Tang Shaoyi, the first prime minister of China.
Tang Guoan, the first president of Tsinghua University.
In short, except for those who died early, did not return to the United States, and buried their hometowns, most of them have made due contributions to China's modernization in different positions.
In 1905, a group photo of some students studying in the United States.
In 1936, the children in the United States reunited in Shanghai for the last time.
Their fate is bizarre and tortuous; Their stories are beautiful and sad.