MUNCIE, Ind.--Ball State University faculty and students traveling in China said they have been humbled by the reception they received from the people on the streets of Beijing.

"We’ve received a warm, friendly reception everywhere we’ve been," said Dean of Students Don Mikesell. "It’s humbling to be treated so well by people who have so much less than we have."

The group has been in the Chinese capital since Sunday, visiting the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and other tourists sites.

Mikesell said people on the streets, including children and the elderly, often stop the Americans and ask to have their pictures taken with them.

"Our relationships with the Chinese people have been very respectful and friendly," said Mikesell. "They have been better hosts than we could have ever expected. We’ve been treated very well."

The three-day visit to Beijing is part of a planned 18-day stay in China. The delegation of 10 students and six faculty visited Shanghai Teachers University last week and travel to the Xian Institute for Physical Education Wednesday.

The trip is part of an annual five-week summer study in China, Korea and Japan.