Nine Chinese orphans were treated to a three-week summer camp in Maryland, US, thanks to the Datong Institute of Social Welfare, in Datong city, Northern China's Shanxi province.

It was the first overseas event the institute had been involved with.

The children took part in camp activities and visited museums and cultural centers with American families intending to adopt Chinese orphans.

The institute signed a one-year contract with an international organization in Italy, in November last year to promote orphans' adoption and provide aid.

The project mainly carries out evaluation of adopting families and interaction between children and foster carers to ensure mutual understanding before adoption, especially for children with disabilities or of an older age.

The summer camp was organized jointly by the Italian organization and Cradle of Hope Adoption Center, Inc in the US.