On July 13, the Fuzhou leg of the Bond with Kuliang: China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival came to a successful conclusion. Over 1,000 Chinese and American participants gathered in Fuzhou, Fujian province, for a heartwarming reunion that bridged oceans, cultures, and generations.
In front of a heart-shaped tree on Nanhou Street, the Brigham Young University (BYU) Women's Chorus filled the historic alleyway with resonant melodies, setting the tone for a journey of cultural harmony and shared dreams. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]
From sharing a well in Kuliang, a once-quiet hillside summer retreat a century ago and now a cherished tourist destination in suburban Fuzhou, to reuniting across the Pacific today, the bond with Kuliang is being passed on to a new generation. This summer, youth choirs from China and the United States joined longtime Kuliang Friends to write a new page of friendship through music.
"When our voices intertwined beneath the starry skies of Kuliang, amidst the scent of jasmine, we became unforgettable parts of each other's youth instead of just choir partners," said Chinese student Hu Wang Yihan.
In 2015, five students from the Affiliated High School of Fuzhou Institute of Education visited the United States and performed Fields of Hope with students from the Lincoln High School in Tacoma, a city in the state of Washington.
This summer, the Tacoma Youth Choir (Lincoln High School) returned to Fuzhou to perform the same piece, bringing a moving moment of reunion and shared memory.
"When I joined the choir, I already knew about our connection with Lincoln High," said soloist Yang Jike. "It's an honor to be part of this event. Though we live in different cultures and speak different languages, our shared longing for peace and friendship unites us."
During the "Choirs Enter Campus" event, students from both schools paired up to explore traditional Chinese culture. Together, they practiced calligraphy, crafted oil-paper umbrellas, sipped fragrant jasmine tea, and engaged in warm exchanges about school life and cultural understanding.
Throughout the festival, vibrant street performances brought the China-U.S. choirs into close contact with Fuzhou locals. Under a pedestrian bridge in the Yantaishan historic district, the Brigham Young University Select Singers performed Tuttarana and With a Lily in Your Hand, captivating passersby with their passionate harmonies.
At the Fujian Museum, the St. Genevieve Valiant Voices performed Shenandoah and O Vos, O Galo, Comadre, earning rounds of applause from museumgoers.
In the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, members of the Tacoma Youth Choir from the U.S. and the Creative Cadence Choir from the Hong Kong SAR of China joined voices in We Are the World. The familiar tune stirred the hearts of local residents. "The yearning for peace is a shared hope of the Chinese and American people," said Lin Lu, a Fuzhou resident. "Seeds of friendship like these will surely take root and blossom into something beautiful."
Fuzhou's blend of modern vibrancy and rich cultural heritage left a deep impression on the American visitors. They strolled the lively streets of Yantaishan, visited the Fuzhou Historic and Cultural Exhibition Hall, learned traditional tea preparation techniques, and crafted paper-cuttings, which became a cherished souvenir of their experience with Chinese culture.
At the Fujian Museum, the "Flying Tigers" exhibition, with its rare artifacts and detailed storytelling, offered an in-depth look into the enduring friendship between China and the United States.
These young people from different backgrounds found common ground through the shared experiences and cultural exchange. The connection fostered by the bond with Kuliang continues to grow, encouraging greater mutual understanding and lasting friendship.
