An original song in the Fuzhou dialect recently echoed through the valleys of Minhou county, as American content creator Juan collaborated with local artists to film a short music video for "Beautiful Minhou" at the base of Wuhu Mountain in Fuzhou city, Fujian province.

Sung entirely in the local dialect, the upbeat tune captures the essence of cross-cultural friendship between East and West. 

American content creator Juan reads a Chinese book. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]

Born in 1990 in Queens, New York City, Juan is a Spanish-American who speaks fluent Chinese along with several other languages. When the New Yorker performs in the Fuzhou dialect, it is hard to believe that the smooth local tones come from a foreigner. His language skills have become a vivid example of cultural exchange between Fuzhou and the wider world.

Juan developed an early passion for Chinese culture. "I've always admired Chinese characters — they're full of artistry," he said. He began studying Chinese at 19 while attending St. John's University in New York, where he practiced daily with Chinese classmates. Three years later, he won the first prize in the U.S. Northeast region and the second prize nationwide in the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition.

Juan first encountered the Fuzhou dialect in Flushing, Queens, a neighborhood with a large Fuzhounese-speaking community. Out of curiosity, he began learning the dialect online in 2023. "The deeper I studied, the more charm I found in it," he recalled.

He quickly began applying his new skills in daily life. On the second day of learning, he visited a Fuzhou restaurant in Flushing and tried ordering in the dialect. "I had just learned the words 'banmian' and 'bianrou' — two classic Fuzhou dishes. The owner was delighted to hear his hometown dialect and taught me more expressions," Juan said.

Since moving to Fuzhou, Juan has continued studying the dialect through everyday conversations. "When I first called my landlord, the first thing I asked was, 'Where are you from? Can you teach me the Fuzhou dialect?'" he recalled with a laugh. After two years of practice, he can now communicate fluently with locals.

Juan has visited many parts of China, but he says Fuzhou feels most like home. "People here are warm, genuine and full of vitality," he said. "I admire how Fuzhou people dare to be pioneers. Many went abroad and built communities from nothing — that spirit of courage inspires me."

Now planning to settle long-term in Fuzhou, Juan runs a Douyin account where he shares videos about local culture, dialect tutorials and original songs. "I think the Fuzhou dialect is one of the most beautiful languages in the world," he said. "Through music and storytelling, I hope to help more people around the world appreciate Fuzhou's culture and the beauty of its local traditions."

Through his music and creativity, Juan continues to build bridges between cultures, allowing the world to hear the distinctive voice of Fuzhou.