Pen pals bridge the miles and boost understanding

Though separated by thousands of miles, Myaser Semat, a teenage girl studying in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and Guo Rongbo, a teenager in East China's Shanghai, have become friends by simply exchanging letters.

The two share secrets and discuss their favorite books, movie stars and cartoons.

From Guo's letters, Semat, of No 92 Middle School in Urumqi, learned of Shanghai's bustling commercial center of Lujiazui and developed a dream of one day studying in the metropolis.