CCIP exchange visitors spent a wonderful Friday night enjoying the 360-degree views of New York City and beyond from the top of a landmark skyscraper — the Empire State Building.

Students had dinner together in Koreatown before heading to the building, where the lobby had been newly restored with stunning Art Deco murals. After visiting two exhibits, students reached the 443-meter-high observation deck on the 102nd floor.

"The nighttime view was fantastic with stars blinking in the dark blue sky and the whole New York skyline illuminated below," said Alice, a student from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and also the key student organizer of the event.

For most of the session B students, it was their first group activity after arriving in the city, and thus it granted them a precious opportunity to have a taste of New York as well as socialize with new friends.

"I'm glad to see that my fellow exchange visitors are quite content with the trip and are impressed by the vastness of New York. Through this activity, the newcomers began to mingle with each other and are building friendships gradually," said co-organizer Michael, currently studying at Hong Kong University, who came to New York early.