A GROUP of Kung Fu students have been on a trip of a lifetime after the Chinese government invited them to stay.
The children from Kung Fu Schools in Croydon spent an all-expenses paid week in Beijing at the end of July, after the invitation from the educational arm of the Chinese government, the Confucius Institute.
Kung Fu Schools, based at the Capital Business Centre, in Carlton Road, South Croydon, works with the Confucius Institute and is the only martial arts school in London to be recognised by them.
The children were taken to see all the sights and Kung Fu Schools head instructor Alan Paterson said that the highlight of the trip was going to see the Great Wall of China.
He said: "The kids loved it. They have seen so much of the Karate Kid film and so to actually stand on it - they were amazed by the size and skill of it."
The group were also given privileged access to the giant pandas at Beijing Zoo and were able to get up close to the animals with the zoo guards.
They even found time to practise their Kung Fu on the roof of their hotel in Beijing.
Mr Paterson added: "The kids must have affected them because they've invited us back to Shanghai next year.
"As an instructor to be invited by the Chinese government was quite daunting.
"For myself and the other instructors we feel very honoured to be invited to take the kids and represent Croydon and the UK.
"We got such a warm reception and they couldn't do enough for us."
