While Northeastern and BU are busy trying to get international students to study here, the Chinese are trying to attract American students to their universities.

The Summer Olympics have already attracted thousands of Americans to Beijing to watch and support the US teams. The Chinese are hoping that joining the publicity of the Olympic games in Beijing, will be packs of American students as well.

At Purdue University, China is already the number one destination for students looking to study abroad and it is growing among other campuses too. University of Southern California sent 343 students last year to take classes and explore the ancient country.

For a few years before the Olympics, China has been on the rise as a popular study abroad destination. The mystique of a different language, the thrill of being halfway around the world and the exciting cities are attracting thousands of American students to China.

The Boston Globe reports:

While study abroad generally is growing, China's particular popularity has a range of explanations. It's cheaper than Europe, whose currencies have pummeled the U.S. dollar. There's a supply of American-trained Chinese academics who help bridge the language and culture gap. And China itself has become more welcoming, hoping to emulate how the United States has used its universities to extend its global influence.

Unlike the European programs, the Chinese mean business. Typically stories of students abroad in Europe involve stories of being whisked away to islands like Capri or Mykonos for a weekend of wine-tasting and partying. The Chinese programs focus less on parading their abroad students around the country on more on the learning process.

So for serious students who are looking to learn and grow (and drink sake drinks), check out the study abroad trips to China.