SIX students took the trip of a lifetime to China to find out about the legacy of the Beijing Olympics.

The students from Weymouth College travelled to Beijing as part of the Young Ambassadors Scheme, to find out about the Olympic venues and how they are being used in the wake of the Olympic Games two years ago.

The flight to Beijing took nine hours, and then the students got a transfer to Qingdao, which was the venue of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events.

Young ambassador Kieran Bosomworth said: “When the flight landed in Beijing, the culture of the city and country hits you like a wall. “The airport was mind-bendingly massive and modern, with huge wide screens round every corner, modern architecture implemented to every wall and stunning glass windows layering the buildings around the airport.”

He added: “Despite the two hour delay in the airport and the four hour delay on the tarmac transferring to Qingdao, and even though I was sat next to two strangers, I never once felt upset as the hospitality of the Chinese was fantastic.”

The students travelled to the Qingdao Sailing Academy, which was much bigger than the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Student Jamie Richards said: “What was most interesting to see is how the academy has changed since 2008.

“It has now become an Olympic museum which seemed a shame to allow such an incredible venue to only be used for such a short time. I hope Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy will prosper following the 2012 games.”

The students visited Beijing Huijia University where they met students who had volunteered at the Olympic Games and found out what impact volunteering had had on bringing the community together.

Students also got to visit the Great Wall of China and saw the daily flag raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square.

Student Lilly Markwell said: “The 2008 Beijing Olympic video was still playing on big screens in Tiananmen Square and everywhere we went in China the Olympic spirit was still very much alive.

“The Chinese are still very proud of themselves and what they achieved. This is a memory I will never forget.”

The Young Ambassadors project is now looking to expand to include students from Budmouth Technology College.

For more information call Sally Anne Butters at Weymouth College on 01305 764713.