The Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival will officially open in Fuzhou on June 29, bringing young baseball players from China and the United States together on the field.
Alongside them, several members of the "Friends of Kuliang", whose families share deep historical ties with Kuliang, will return to the city to participate in a series of cultural exchanges, including a book launch and storytelling sessions, celebrating their family legacies and renewing the longstanding friendship between the Chinese and American people.
Kuliang has long stood as a symbol of China-U.S. people-to-people friendship. In recent years, as the story of Kuliang has gained wider international recognition, an increasing number of former residents and their descendants have retraced their family roots in Fuzhou. Many have since become ambassadors of friendship, helping preserve and share the stories that have connected the two peoples across generations.
This year, "Friends of Kuliang", including Elyn MacInnis and Gordon Trimble, will participate in a variety of exchange activities throughout the festival. Among the highlights is the launch of a new book that explores the century-long natural history legacy of a family with close ties to Kuliang. Drawing on bird surveys and field observations conducted more than 100 years ago, the book highlights a remarkable story of scientific exploration, cultural exchange and international collaboration. Following the launch, "Friends of Kuliang" and leading scholars will join discussions on ecological conservation, cultural heritage, and the enduring value of cross-cultural cooperation.
At the story-sharing session, participants will recount their families' enduring connections with Kuliang. Elyn will share her experience promoting research on Kuliang's history and culture. Gordon will tell the story of his family's contributions to education in Fujian province. Priscilla Gill will recall her childhood summers spent in Kuliang, while Thomas Hemenway will reflect on his ancestors' medical work in China. Zhang Youxin will also present a collection of historic Kuliang postal covers that his family has carefully preserved for decades. Together, these personal stories will bring to life the rich history of friendship between the people of China and the United States.
From treasured family memories of Kuliang to today's gathering of young people through sports and cultural exchange, the spirit of friendship continues to pass from one generation to the next. As the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival gets underway, the "Friends of Kuliang" will once again return to where their stories began, joining a new generation of young people to write the next chapter in the enduring story of Kuliang friendship.
