Elyn MacInnis, founder of the Kuliang Friends, arrived in Kuliang, Fuzhou city, on March 9, accompanied by first-time visitors Marie and Amanda. The two experts came to take part in "Going Home: Renewing the Kuliang Friendship", a Sino-foreign cultural exchange event dedicated to celebrating and preserving the deep historical ties between Kuliang and its international friends. Over the coming days, more members of Kuliang Friends will return to this cherished place, rekindling their connections to a home away from home.

Participants gather for a group photo during the "Going Home: Renewing the Kuliang Friendship" event on March 9. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]

On Monday morning, Elyn, a longtime resident and passionate advocate for the area, gave Marie and Amanda a guided tour of Kuliang. Their journey began at the Millennium Cryptomeria King, a thousand-year-old cedar with twin trunks and a lush canopy that has silently witnessed the passage of time. Standing beneath its towering branches, Elyn shared the stories and significance of this living monument, a symbol of Kuliang's enduring spirit.

Elyn MacInnis introduces the ancient well located in the Qitouding area of Kuliang to the experts. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]

Further along the trail, they reached the Qitouding area, where a century-old well continues to flow with crystal-clear spring water. The well's inscription, "Public Well for Foreigners and Locals", serves as a reminder of the harmonious coexistence between foreign residents and the local community—a legacy of friendship etched in stone.

Adjacent to the well, the Kuliang Post Office preserves another chapter of this history. Here, postcards stamped with the iconic "Kuliang" postmark serve as tangible mementos of a bygone era. For over three decades, generations of Kuliang Friends have worked tirelessly to share and safeguard these stories, ensuring that Kuliang's rich cultural heritage is never forgotten.

Elyn and her husband have devoted years to researching Kuliang's history, visiting the descendants of foreign residents, and collecting invaluable writings, photographs, and artifacts. Their dedication has breathed new life into long-lost memories and contributed to an ever-growing archive of cross-cultural connections.

Elizabeth Gardner once journeyed across China to find the place her husband had longed for—Kuliang. Today, thanks to initiatives like Elyn's website (www.Kuliang-kuliang.com), the Kuliang Family Tree system developed by Lin Yinan's Ancient House Revitalization Laboratory, and the bilingual "Bond with Kuliang" website platform, more descendants of former foreign residents are rediscovering their ties to this special place and sharing their stories.

The tour concluded at the China-U.S. Youth Friendship Woods, where Elyn, Marie, Amanda, and Yan Tao, director of the Kuliang Tourist Resort Management Committee, planted a tree together. This simple yet powerful gesture—shoveling soil and watering a young sapling—symbolized the growing friendship between the people of China and the United States, rooted in history and nurtured for the future.

Participants give a thumbs-up for a photo in front of the friendship tree they just planted at the China-U.S. Youth Friendship Woods. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]

Marie, a designer and project director at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, Arizona, was captivated by Kuliang's lush greenery, a stark contrast to the desert landscapes she calls home. "I am honored to be invited to plant a tree and feel the deep friendship between the people of China and the United States", she said. With extensive experience in environmental education, she hopes to help visitors develop a deeper appreciation for Kuliang's unique ecosystem.

Amanda, equally enchanted by Kuliang, expressed her heartfelt attachment to the area. "I've fallen in love with Kuliang and don't want to leave. I wish I could stay here forever," she said.

The "Going Home: Renewing the Kuliang Friendship" exchange event will continue throughout the month, bringing together 11 representatives of Kuliang Friends, scholars, and experts. Through storytelling, shared experiences, and cultural exchanges, they will further strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between China and the United States. As they walk the same paths once traveled by those before them, they ensure that the spirit of Kuliang remains alive for generations to come.