A youth baseball celebration spanning the Pacific is set to begin in Fujian province. The Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival will be held from June 28 to July 2 in Fuzhou and Pingtan, bringing together nearly 400 young participants and guests from China, the United States, and beyond for five days of sports, cultural exchange, and friendship.

The festival is one of the flagship people-to-people exchange programs under the initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over five years. Centered on the theme of friendship, it aims to foster mutual understanding and strengthen bonds between the younger generations of the two countries.

Inspired by the enduring Kuliang story, a symbol of China-U.S. friendship spanning more than a century, the festival weaves cultural exchange into every aspect of its program. Through baseball competitions, campus visits, and immersive cultural experiences, young people from both countries will have opportunities to connect, learn from one another, and build friendships that transcend borders.

On the baseball fields of Pingtan, eight youth teams from China and the United States will compete in a series of exciting games showcasing teamwork, sportsmanship, and youthful passion. Beyond the competition, participants will visit eight middle schools and universities in Fuzhou, where they will exchange baseball skills, experience traditional Chinese sports such as cuju (a precursor to modern soccer), create traditional handicrafts recognized as intangible cultural heritage, and explore innovation laboratories, gaining firsthand insights into Chinese culture through interactive activities.

Kuliang, long celebrated as a bridge of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, will host a series of signature cultural events during the festival. The newly established China-U.S. Youth Friendship Park in Kuliang will officially open, while members of the "Friends of Kuliang", whose families share deep historical ties with the mountain retreat, will meet with young participants to share stories of friendship passed down through generations. A new book documenting the Kuliang story will also be released.

Participants will also explore Fuzhou's rich cultural heritage through visits to the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Historic District, Yantaishan Historic District, and Liangcuo Historic District, experiencing the city's unique blend of history, openness, and vibrant local life.