Tianjin plays a leading role in hosting study tours. Many schools in the city have established stable and friendly long-term exchange relations with their counterparts in Japan and other countries. Each year they host some 10,000 tourists from different countries. Members of these study groups visit families and schools to exchange views with people of the same age. They can also visit factories, rural areas, the city proper and scenic spots and experience the every day life of a Tianjin resident.