Young volunteer shares Kuliang stories through bilingual storytelling

A warm "Welcome to Fuzhou! Welcome to Kuliang!" echoed through the Kuliang Story Exhibition Hall at the Kuliang Club in Fuzhou on June 29, drawing the attention of U.S. youth participants attending the Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival.

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Wu Yichen shares the stories of Kuliang with young visitors from the United States. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]

Without referring to notes, 11-year-old Wu Yichen, a fifth-grade student at Fuzhou Chayuanshan Central Primary School, guided the visitors through Kuliang's history in fluent English. Using historic photographs displayed in the exhibition, he vividly recounted stories of foreign families who once spent their summers in Kuliang and the enduring friendships forged between Chinese and international residents more than a century ago.

The presentation captivated the young American visitors, many of whom recorded the tour on their phones and stayed afterward to chat with the young volunteer, creating another memorable moment of people-to-people exchange during the event.

Wu's volunteer work at Kuliang reflects his growing passion for sharing Chinese culture through bilingual storytelling. Inspired by English documentaries and animations from an early age, he has steadily strengthened his language skills while developing a strong foundation in Chinese history, architecture and traditional culture.

Since elementary school, Wu has volunteered to introduce China's cultural heritage to international visitors at museums, historic sites and cultural landmarks across the country. His English presentation on the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province, has attracted millions of online views and earned widespread praise for his confidence and enthusiasm in sharing Chinese culture with international audiences.

As a native of Fuzhou, Wu is especially passionate about introducing his hometown's history and culture. He has given bilingual presentations at landmarks including the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Historic District, Yantaishan Historic District and Fuzhou's urban central axis, while also promoting local traditions such as jasmine tea, Fujian cuisine and historic architecture through online videos.

Now a member of Fuzhou's inaugural Xiaofuqiao Foreign Language Volunteer Service Team, Wu hopes to continue serving as a bridge between cultures.

"I hope to tell Fuzhou's stories to audiences around the world," Wu said.

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