A landmark in Chinese revolutionary history, Yan'an once functioned as the command center of the Communist Party of China. It was also where Chairman Mao Zedong and other revolutionaries led the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the War of Liberation (1946-49).

Jiao Peng, director of the Youth League working committee of Yan'an, said that more than 250,000 patriotic youth, including farmers, industrial workers, intellectuals, and those returning from overseas, came to Yan'an to forge a better future for the nation in the 1930s and 1940s.

"We sincerely hope that more youths from other countries can learn about China and deepen the friendship between China and the international community in the new era," said Liu Suping, director of the Europe and Asia division of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries at the welcome ceremony held at the National Youth Yan'an Revolutionary Traditional Education Base.

The 16th Shanghai International Youth Interactive Friendship Camp kicked off in Shanghai on Tuesday and will run for nine days.