The Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival kicked off in Pingtan, Fujian province, on June 30, bringing together young baseball players from China and the United States for competition, cultural exchange and friendship.
Hosted at Pingtan Baseball Park, the exhibition games feature four U.S. youth teams and four Chinese teams competing across two fields. More than a sporting event, the games serve as a platform for young people from both countries to connect through their shared love of baseball while carrying forward the enduring friendship inspired by the Kuliang story.
The Fujian Provincial Baseball Team (China) takes on the Northeastern State University RiverHawks (USA) during the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival in Pingtan, Fujian province, on June 30.
The day's games featured Fujian Provincial Baseball Team (China) against the Northeastern State University RiverHawks (USA), while the Sichuan Dragons Baseball Team (China) took on the Detroit Baseball Team (USA). In the afternoon, the Hong Kong Tigers Baseball Team (China) faced the Near West Baseball Club of Virginia (USA), and Xi'an Physical Education University Baseball Team (China) played the Iowa Baseball Team (USA).
The participating teams represent a strong mix of talent and experience. The U.S. teams come from colleges and universities with established baseball programs, while the Chinese teams include provincial, collegiate and club teams that have built solid reputations in domestic competition.
The Sichuan Dragons Baseball Team (China) takes on the Detroit Baseball Team (USA) during the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival in Pingtan, Fujian province, on June 30.
The action on the field was matched by warm exchanges off it. Players shared training tips, talked about their experiences in the sport, exchanged gifts and gathered for group photos after the games. Baseball became a shared language, bringing young people from China and the United States closer together.
The Sichuan Dragons Baseball Team (China) takes on the Detroit Baseball Team (USA) during the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival in Pingtan, Fujian province, on June 30.
The baseball exhibition games are part of the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival, which runs through July 2. Participants will also enjoy campus visits, cultural and innovation activities, historical tours, a cruise along the Minjiang River aboard a traditional Fuzhou vessel, and hands-on workshops featuring intangible cultural heritage, creating more opportunities for meaningful exchanges beyond the baseball field.
