A group of kids from Chengdu, China, who were orphaned last year by a devastating earthquake are in Edmonton for a special visit.

The local Chinese community raised money to bring 18 kids to Edmonton for a week of fun, including a trip to the zoo and a baseball game.

Zeng Jing, with Chengdu's foreign affairs office, said the kids are really excited.

"For most of the kids, it's the first time they've come out of our country," Jing said.

"They fly, they take a plane and they have a chance to talk to foreign kids. Last year they lost their family members and now they could have the feeling of home here because we have so many kind people."

Yu Zhou, one of the orphans, said she really likes Edmonton.

"I think it's really clean and beautiful and I think we are warmly welcomed."

"I love this city and as for the earthquake … actually, now I think we are coming back to the normal life. Everything is going better."

The kids from Chengdu have been partnered with kids from Edmonton who are in the public school board's Mandarin bilingual program.

The hope is that the kids and the two cities will create a lifelong partnership.

Edmonton's Chinese community hopes to bring another 18 orphans to the city next year.