How Harriet Parkinson Inspired the 2024 China-US Youth Festival in Fuzhou

Reading time: 6 minutes

Brigham Young University senior Harriet Parkinson fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the China-U.S. Bond With Kuliang: 2024 Youth Festival in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Reflecting on her journey from Minnesota to China, Parkinson explained how learning Chinese from a young age sparked her fascination with the country.

Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Fujian Provincial Government and the All-China Youth Federation, the festival brought together more than 500 young participants, including Parkinson and his American peers. Activities throughout the week included cultural exhibitions, sports matches and dialogues aimed at fostering friendship and understanding.

In a congratulatory letter, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of the event in promoting bilateral exchanges and cooperation, emphasizing the central role of youth in shaping the future of China-U.S. relations.

Kuliang, Nestled on the outskirts of Fuzhou, it holds particular historical significance as a refuge for international residents from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. Their legacy of friendship with local villagers continues to inspire generations, highlighting the enduring bonds nurtured by cultural exchange and shared experiences.

At the end of the festival, Parkinson expressed gratitude for the friendships forged and memories created, embodying the spirit of intercultural harmony celebrated at Kuliang.

Josh Adams from San Francisco, California, still vividly remembers a scene from her childhood, when her great-grandmother would prepare a pot of fragrant jasmine tea every afternoon, saying that its flavor was reminiscent of Kuliang jasmine tea.

Adams’ great-grandparents arrived in China in 1907 to teach agriculture at a vocational school in Fuzhou. Arthur Billing, Adams’ great-grandfather, started as a teacher and eventually became the school’s principal. He went above and beyond his duties by sponsoring several Chinese students to study in the United States. Adams’ great-grandmother, meanwhile, focused on the education of young Chinese women, advocating for their right to education at a time when opportunities were largely reserved for men in China. Her dedication had a lasting impact on the local community, empowering young women through education.

In 2017, Adams visited Kuliang for the first time, enthusiastically sampling the local jasmine tea. “That’s the memory I have of it. It was just like having tea with my great-grandmother,” he said.

On Adams’ second visit to Kuliang in June, he was invited to the Guo family villa, formerly owned by the Billings before they returned to the United States in 1948. Over a warm family dinner, he exchanged contact information with a recent college graduate, a fourth-generation member of the Guo family.

“The friendship between the two families continues to be cherished and passed on,” Adams said.

Claire Ashmead, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan Medical School, made her second trip to China with a perfect command of Chinese. In the fall of 2012, Ashmead, then a student at Princeton University, joined an exchange program abroad that took her to Kunming, Yunnan, where she immersed herself in the study and improvement of the Chinese language while living with a local family for a year.

Noting that it was a beautiful time in her life, Ashmead said she felt very fortunate to be in China again. “China is very interested in reaching out to America. I think that bodes very well,” she added.

“When we talk about countries like America or China, they mean nothing without the people who make up those countries.” Ashmead said: emphasizing that Kuliang’s story is one of families coming to China and developing strong friendships. And that has created a trickle-down effect where more family members have more friendships.

Harriet Parkinson and her brother David, currently a medical student at the University of Michigan, had a happy coincidence when they were both invited on a trip together, and found out just before they were due to leave. Amidst the unknown of China, they shared memorable moments, comparable to “meeting a familiar face in a foreign land.”

Following their visit to Fuzhou, a small group of American youth extended their trip to Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, from June 28 to July 1. The extension was part of the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD), a program that regularly guides international participants through different regions of China, providing them with a deeper insight into the country.

Zoey Chopra, A University of Michigan student said he was looking forward to ordering takeout of duck blood vermicelli soup and tangbao, or Chinese dumplings, the night he arrived in Nanjing. “Even though it was very different from my usual diet, it was delicious!” he said.

During their stay in Nanjing, a city steeped in the legacy of six ancient Chinese dynasties and renowned for its rich culture, the young Americans explored important historical sites. They visited iconic landmarks such as Zhonghua Gate, the Qinhuai River, and the Nanjing City Wall Museum, each showcasing the city’s deep history and architectural beauty.

At the Yunjin Museum in Nanjing, they were captivated by a demonstration of ancient wooden looms, marveling at the intricate craftsmanship of Yunjin silk brocade. With a history of over 1,600 years, Yunjin brocade, recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2009, represents the exquisite cultural heritage originating from Nanjing.

“I hope to return to China in the future and learn more, not only about Chinese art, but also its deep history and culture,” said Leila Assadi, a sophomore at the University of Iowa in the United States.

Although Rigel Adams has visited China before, he expressed admiration for the country’s rapid changes in recent years.

A graduate of the University of Washington, he first came to China in 2016 when he was a student at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. During President Xi’s first state visit to the United States in 2015, he visited Lincoln High School and invited 100 students from the school to visit China. “Through travel, you will know China better and hopefully you will like China,” Mr Xi said.

Rigel Adams’ time immersed in Chinese culture and interacting with its people left a lasting impression.

On June 29, during the group’s visit to Nanjing University, he served as a moderator of a seminar where young Chinese and American people discussed global responses to climate change and the preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage.

“Young Americans and Chinese people should build more connections and work together to create a more collaborative and better future,” Chopra told Beijing Review, adding that dialogue is important to promote mutual understanding.

Brandon Chan, chief financial officer of Seton Medical Center in the United States, who was also part of the group visiting Fuzhou and Nanjing, said it was interesting for young people from different countries and cultural backgrounds to engage in such dialogues.

Chopra and the other members of the group also tried their hand at making traditional lanterns, lacquer fans and other forms of Chinese intangible cultural heritage during their stay in Nanjing. He said these activities allowed participants to experience different cultural values ​​and a sense of history, helping them understand the people and culture across the Pacific.

“This is my first time in China, and the real China is completely different from what I imagined. I was deeply impressed by the kindness, hospitality and friendliness of the Chinese people,” Andria Tupola, a Honolulu city councilor originally from Hawaii in the United States, told Beijing Review.

“The more I learn about China and the more I am here in this country, the more I think it all comes down to one word… It is the word ‘friendship’ – something you can’t see or touch, but you get to know each other,” Tupola said at the seminar at Nanjing University. She said she was deeply moved by the interactions between young people from both countries.

Many young Americans who participated in the visit expressed their desire to return to China in the future to explore the country further. Harriet Parkinson was among them.

During her college studies, Harriet took a Chinese language course alongside her urban planning major. She made friends with many Chinese international students, learning to make dumplings, play mahjong, and enjoy hot pot parties together. Harriet has noted the tremendous efforts Chinese students in the United States make to share their culture with Americans. In an interview with Beijing Review, she revealed her plans to apply to graduate programs in China, with Nanjing University being her preferred destination.

“I can’t think of a better place than China to allow a young person to discover the world and its wonders.” said Lisa K. Heller, U.S. Consul General in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, southern China, while she was in Kuliang for the festival.

“Let us continue to build on the foundations of friendship in the future” she added.

Shen Xin, The secretary-general of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries said that “the only purpose (of organizing such activities) is to allow our young people to talk, listen to and learn from each other.”

“During these exchanges, you may find that we are very different, but we can also find a lot in common. So we can do something together for a better future in this world,” he added, hoping that young people from both countries will form lasting friendships.

“I hope that we will work together, especially as young people, so that we can build more bridges and both countries can achieve more success,” said David Parkinson.