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The number of students from China studying at universities across the United States has increased dramatically. According to some statistics, the number of undergraduate students from China in the U.S. has doubled in the last two years. Economists say the trend is due, in large part, to a growing middle class in China. Los Angeles county has one of the largest Chinese student populations in the U.S. - totaling more than 4000 students. At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, it is not difficult to spot students from China. They gather regularly for social events, such as this Mid-Autumn festival. Environmental engineering student Sun Wei said he has not met many Americans because there are so many students from his home country. But he said there is a positive side to this. “The benefit is when I arrived it doesn't take much adjusting," Wei said. "It's all Chinese.” Opportunity and challenge But coming to the United States is not easy for many Chinese students. An Rupeng, a doctoral student at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, said that being away from family has been difficult him and his wife. “We are the only child in both families. And when your parents get older, they tend to miss you a lot and miss their grandson a lot,” said An. But An said he has enjoyed experiencing a different culture. Ferdinando Guerra, an economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, said Chinese students have helped the local economy by contributing more than $100 million last year. And he said they contributed more than $4.5 billion to the U.S. economy. | 
