Americans recount stories of friendship in east China expat community

FUZHOU, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Revisiting Kuliang after many years, Elyn MacInnis, 72, was struck by the noticeable changes in the former expat community in east China, as well as the remarkable aspects that remained unchanged.

"I've been very amazed to see how beautiful it is and how much change has happened," said MacInnis, who hails from the United States, lauding the local government for the commendable efforts in preserving the nostalgic old houses cherished by the expats.

Kuliang, located on the outskirts of Fuzhou, was once a summer resort for foreigners in the early 20th century. Since 1886, people from more than 20 countries, including Britain, France and the United States, began to build villas in Yixia Village in Kuliang to spend the summer.

Facilities such as a post office, international welfare society, tennis courts and swimming pools were also built at that time, forming a community where locals and expats lived in harmony.

MacInnis is emotionally attached to Fuzhou. Her father-in-law came to the city in the 1940s and lived there for many years. Her husband was born there.

As an adviser to the Kuliang tourism and culture research association, MacInnis has been committed to promoting the culture of Kuliang and unveiling its captivating stories.

She has collected more than 1,000 pieces of written and verbal materials, pictures and objects related to Kuliang, and compiled them into digital archives in collaboration with Chinese scholars.

"We never expected to find so many moving and heart-warming stories here," said MacInnis. "Every Kuliang story tells us an important fact that people from different countries, and families can build friendship, which can be handed down from generation to generation."

According to MacInnis's research, there are numerous accounts of mutual assistance between local and foreign residents in the community. These stories highlighted instances of locals going above and beyond to ensure the provision of food for foreign residents, foreign doctors making regular visits to the sick, and foreigners taking up the task of safeguarding the community from mountain beasts.

"People here cared for each other, and that spirit of care made a difference," she said. "With Kuliang's spirit of peace, friendship and love with sensitivity and respect, small actions can build a better future."

Priscilla Gill, now 87, walked through the old streets and alleys, as she recalled her childhood days in Kuliang.

At the Kuliang Post Office, Gill carefully stamped the postmark onto a postcard before placing it into the awaiting post box. "This is my precious gift to Kuliang," she said with a smile.

Gill was born in Fuzhou in 1936. Her father, a well-respected surgeon, was the president of Fuzhou Union Medical College Hospital. During his time in Fuzhou, he founded a leprosy hospital.

Gill had an unforgettable childhood in Kuliang, spending every summer there with her siblings and parents until the age of 12, before returning to the United States.

She developed strong bonds and formed meaningful friendships with her neighbors in the community, where her father had set up a small clinic for the villagers.

"I played the role of my father's assistant. We lived in a house with a porch overlooking the mist-shrouded valley, which is beautiful like heaven," she recalled.

On April 8, 1992, an article entitled "Ah! Kuliang" was published in People's Daily, telling the story of the late Milton Gardner, a professor of physics at the University of California.

In 1901, Gardner came to Fuzhou with his parents when he was a baby. The family returned to California in 1911.

In the ensuing decades, Gardner's long-cherished desire was to revisit his childhood hometown in China. Regrettably, he was never able to do it. "Kuliang, Kuliang" were his last words before death.

His wife Elizabeth Gardner made huge efforts to find out where Kuliang is. With the help of a Chinese student, she finally figured out that it was in Fuzhou.

In 1992, Elizabeth Gardner visited Kuliang to fulfill her late husband's wish, undertaking the journey on his behalf as a tribute to his memory. She was excited to see the century-old house, where her husband had lived.

Erin Behland, a graduate student at Peking University, is deeply moved by the stories of Kuliang. "These stories are an excellent example of the history of U.S. -- China relations," said Behland, adding that the stories showed that the bridge of friendship between the two countries had long been built and the young people today need to strengthen it.

According to Luca Berrone, a board member of Iowa Sister States, the foundation of the relationship between countries is the people-to-people connection.

"It is important for people from the United States and China to get to know each other, learn more about each other's culture, language, habits, and exchange information and ideas," Berrone said.