American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships
This week, more than 500 Chinese and American youths gathered in Fuzhou, Fujian, to participate in the 2024 "Gulingyuan" China-US Youth Exchange Week. This is also the largest youth exchange event since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. More than 200 American youths came to China. What did they encounter and what did they gain?
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/56828b623950680abf3f37169a7f6c0a.webp)
The century-long relationship between Guling is a good story of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people. As a summer resort in Fuzhou, Guling has attracted many Americans to live here. They have also established deep friendships with the locals.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/4eb2dc9e5ea2b989ddfce69c2892e91e.webp)
In midsummer, more than 500 young people from China and the United States met in Guling, learned about the stories written by their predecessors, and forged new friendships.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/74800f4dbe01576e9527cb6d70f24b0e.webp)
Tang Wensheng, former vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese: When Premier Zhou Enlai met them, he said that your arrival opened a new door for exchanges between the peoples of China and the United States.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/19c581cd2a6673ce6da3a4a783d4a4f8.webp)
The historical stories shared by those who experienced and witnessed the China-US relations touched Herui Peng of Brigham Young University in Utah, USA.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/4cf1267b6807eacd889a3e91a4241613.webp)
Influenced by her mother, Peng Herui learned Chinese at a young age and fell in love with Chinese culture. When the school announced that she could visit China to participate in Sino-US youth exchange activities, Peng Herui signed up immediately. She also called her first trip to China a "dream-fulfilling journey."
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/7e2b3ef8cc915a5fcf7e65e2ed813203.webp)
Peng Herui, a student at Brigham Young University in the United States: In the past few days, I have made some good friends who invited me to visit their different provinces. Then I also invited them to come to the United States. I think these exchanges allow us to better understand each other's culture.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/5413a48c41e6e760d32176034dde38e4.webp)
Peng Herui seized every opportunity to communicate with Chinese friends in Chinese and personally experience the Chinese culture that she had only learned about in books and videos before. As she is about to graduate from college, she has also made an important decision: she hopes to study in China next fall.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/8d794f9c9bc9ba2e5c924769f193f574.webp)
Peng Herui, a student at Brigham Young University in the United States: This was my first year, and it was Teacher Peng. I remember that even though I was very young, she encouraged me to get a master's degree. So I think if she knew that I could get a master's degree in China, she would be very happy. I hope that Sino-US relations can get better, and I need to start it myself. I need to come here to study, start to cultivate new relationships, and cultivate better friends here. So I think if I want others to do it, I will do it myself.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/2fcf04eea6c07a1475833de7811786d4.webp)
Unlike Peng and Rui, who came to China for the first time, Louis from Texas, USA, has lived in China for 15 years. From undergraduate to doctoral student to university lecturer, Louis realized his dream in China. This time, he also specially recommended his friends to come to Guling to share this story about "peace, friendship and love".
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/558e82f87e2cda3c4063fa83c37df9dc.webp)
Louis, Secretary General of the International Alumni Association of the Young University of International Business and Economics: My American friends have been asking, Louis, why have you been there for so long? Sometimes I don't go back for three or four years, because I feel very comfortable and like China. Then I tell them that this country is great, and you should all come and see it. There is a saying in the United States that "young people are the future", so I can go and see more, learn more about China, and learn more about some stories between China and the United States.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/abd84d6c6d7c226ff1e9fc7fff9b0297.webp)
Chris West, a friend of American youth Louis: We watched documentaries and visited cities. It was a great experience because it was our first time in China. This made me truly understand friendship and how this friendship can be passed down from generation to generation. It also made me think further about how China and the United States can pass on friendship.
![American youth's time in Guling: learning about the stories of their predecessors and forging new friendships](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/8d89328460b7e589a8f54bbdd3cd43d5.webp)
Today, this China-US friendship is still being passed on and continued.
Youth roundtables, discussing topics of common concern such as artificial intelligence, innovation and entrepreneurship; carefully rehearsing, jointly presenting a special performance... Chinese and American youth met each other in Guling and planted their own "friendship tree" together. The new generation of "Guling Friends" from the United States is also writing a new "Guling Story" in the process of constantly getting to know China.
David Parkinson, a student at the University of Michigan: I hope that as young people we can work together to build more bridges between our two countries, and our countries will achieve greater success together.
Mayor Woodards of Tacoma, Washington: I hope that the young people I bring here from the United States will have the opportunity to experience, learn, and build lasting friendships that will accompany them throughout their lives. I also believe that if we give young people opportunities now, our world will become a better place in the future.
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