As summer mist drifted across the hills of Kuliang in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Elyn MacInnis once again returned to the mountain retreat that has become a lasting symbol of her family's enduring bond with China.
Elyn MacInnis, a Kuliang culture researcher, initiator of "Kuliang Friends" and descendant of the Donald MacInnis family. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]
A dedicated "Kuliang Friend", MacInnis has spent more than a decade tracing her family's history while helping foster people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States.
She first came to Kuliang in 2015 to fulfill the final wish of her father-in-law, Donald MacInnis, whose ashes were scattered in the Minjiang River. Carrying family photographs, diaries and old maps, she set out to find Skye, the MacInnis family's former stone villa named after Scotland's Isle of Skye. With the support of local scholar Lin Yinan and Kuliang villagers, the long-lost site was eventually rediscovered after decades of obscurity.
Her search soon evolved into a broader mission. Traveling across China and the United States, MacInnis has connected descendants of more than 70 Kuliang families, collected thousands of historical photographs and documents, and donated valuable archival materials to support research and preservation efforts. Her work has helped revive countless cross-Pacific family stories and preserve Kuliang's shared heritage.
Since the launch of the Bond with Kuliang series of events in 2023, MacInnis has returned every year to participate in its activities.
This year, she participated in story-sharing sessions, cultural events and youth exchange programs, believing that lasting friendship is built through genuine human connections rather than differences in nationality or background.
During the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival, MacInnis joined Chinese and American young people at the opening ceremony of the China-U.S. Youth Friendship Park. Watching teenagers play baseball, experience traditional Chinese culture and plant friendship trees together, she saw a new chapter of the Kuliang story unfolding through the younger generation.
Looking ahead, MacInnis hopes to introduce Kuliang's history to more young people through a documentary designed for international audiences. By sharing the stories of Kuliang families and the friendships that have endured for generations, she believes the spirit of Kuliang will continue to inspire young people and strengthen China-U.S. friendship for years to come.
"Home is not defined by where you come from," MacInnis said. "It is defined by the friendships you build and the memories you share. That is what Kuliang represents."
