As Kunming and Denver celebrate the 40th anniversary of their sister-city relationship, a 16-member youth delegation from the capital of Colorado in the United States, visited Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, from June 20 to 24 at the invitation of the Kunming Foreign Affairs Office. The visit centered on a biodiversity-themed educational exchange.
The delegation visited Fuli Palace at the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a permanent legacy site of COP15 (15th Conference of the Parties), where they observed more than 2,500 species of rare plants and experienced the traditional craft of making woven fans, a treasured example of China's intangible cultural heritage.
Their journey also took them to the Stone Forest Scenic Area, where they marveled at a 270-million-year-old geological wonder, and to Jiuxiang Scenic Area in Yiliang county to explore caves and underground rivers rich in biodiversity. Along the shores of Dianchi Lake, they learned about four decades of ecological restoration at the plateau lake.
Additionally, the delegation toured the Kunming Flying Tigers Memorial Hall, learning about the first American volunteer group of the Republic of China Air Force and its support for the country during World War II. The group also got to hear the story of veteran John Yee, who served as a translator for the Flying Tigers in China, while promoting the sister-city relationship between the two cities after returning to the US.
At Daguan Park, the delegation visited a red stone gifted by Denver in 2004, a lasting symbol of the friendship passed down through generations.
Watch the video to hear what impressed the young visitors most during their journey in Kunming.
