Hong Kong and Macao delegates engage in patriotic education at PLA Guards of Honor base in Beijing

"I struggled with this move for almost two and a half months," Pu said, recalling his training at school. Daily training and help from teachers and instructors helped Pu overcome the difficulty.

He added that the discipline of the soldiers had left a deep impression.

"As long as one has good discipline, no matter how poor one's foundation is, one can become an excellent pacesetter."

The visit, which ran from Sept 18 to 22, also included attending the national flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square and visiting the Great Hall of the People, the Palace Museum, and the National Museum of China.

The delegation was divided into six groups to visit primary and secondary schools and universities in Beijing, with dedicated study visits to cultural, science and technology venues, enterprises, and rural communities, among other sites.