“A friend afar brings a distant land near.” This ancient Chinese interpretation of friendship has come to life through a growing group of American families who considered a “mysterious” suburban area in China as their roots and home.

The “mysterious” place is called “Kuliang,” the Fujian dialect name of the Guling scenic area that even most Chinese were unfamiliar with. For over a hundred years, however, the American families which once lived there harmoniously with friendly Chinese in the 1900s still call it home.

Due to cultural differences and decades of shattered memories, “Kuliang” remained unrecognized until one of the American families, the Gardners, rediscovered it as Guling with the help of the then Fuzhou government official Xi Jinping.

The “Kuliang story” inspired other American families to find their ancestors' Chinese roots and moved the hearts of many Chinese people across the ocean. When Peter MacInnis, who was born in Guling, and his wife Elyn MacInnis started their research on “Kuliang,” they got support from not only the American former Kuliang families but also the Chinese communities.

In the seven years of research, Elyn MacInnis formed the Kuliang Friends group as the Kuliang circle broadened. Americans and Chinese collaborated with modern technologies, tracing back many incredible stories in China.

Over a hundred years ago, many American families developed a deep friendship with the Chinese in "Kuliang." Some of their ancestors fought side by side with the Chinese in Flying Tigers and some even lost their lives in defending China against the Japanese invasion in World War II.

After a hundred years, the friendship passes on to several generations, becoming a mutually beneficial cooperation. When the Chinese helped the Americans find roots in Guling, these family memories helped China recover some precious history in a time of wars and chaos.

Elyn believed these people-to-people exchanges are the Kuliang spirit of “peace, friendship, and love.” Regardless of the cultural difference, the touching stories of "Kuliang" never fade away and continue to bridge people from the two countries together.

Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang met with the American families and thanked the Kuliang Friends group for doing a tremendous amount of work for Guling, promoting understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American people. "Kuliang" stories demonstrated people-to-people exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in times when the U.S.-China relationship is facing many difficulties and challenges. 

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