Chinese players attend event marking 53 years of Ping Pong Diplomacy

Hundreds of Chinese and Americans, including Chinese table tennis icons Ma Long and Liu Shiwen, gathered in Los Angeles County's Pacific Palms Resort on Sunday to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of China-U.S. "Ping-Pong Diplomacy."

In April 1971, nine players from the U.S. Table Tennis team took a historic trip to China, becoming the first delegation of Americans to visit China in decades.

Their trip was the beginning of what became known as "Ping-Pong Diplomacy," and helped lay the groundwork for the establishment of official diplomatic relations between the Peoples' Republic of China and the United States. The legacy also led to improved people-to-people understanding and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

At the celebration event, Ma Long, who has claimed six Olympic gold medals, and fellow Olympic champion Liu Shiwen played friendly matches with Connie and Dell Sweeris, who were both members of the U.S. table tennis team in 1971, as well as young players of the current U.S. table tennis team.

Ma expressed his admiration for the older generation of U.S. players for their enduring passion and love for table tennis.

"You can feel that after all these years, they still have such a deep affection for table tennis. Their love for the sport is still there, and when they were younger, they knew every player on the Chinese team as if they were a family. So I think this friendship has always been maintained," Ma said.

Liu described playing matches with both the older and younger generations of U.S. table tennis players as a truly unique experience.

"It feels quite surreal. I can imagine the scene of them fighting hard on the court in the past. And when we were playing against each other, I felt it was a manifestation and continuation of the spirit of table tennis," she said.

This year's celebration event was attended by representatives from the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Chinese Table Tennis Association. Gene Sykes, Chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Board of Directors, along with other senior representatives from the International Table Tennis Federation and USA Table Tennis, also attended the event.

Chinese players attend event marking 53 years of Ping Pong Diplomacy

Holiday celebrations with strong festive vibes in southwest China's Yunnan Province are attracting crowds of visitors thanks to the rich local traditions, cuisine, and culture.

Mojiang County is home to the Hani ethnic group. On Saturday, the second day of the May Day holiday, the Hani people were celebrating one of their most vibrant traditions, the Long-Street Banquet.

There was a grand open-air feast -- a hallmark of Hani culture. During major festivals, local families would line the streets with long rows of tables, and gather together to share food and music in celebration. This year, more than 100 tables have been set up, welcoming both residents and visitors to join in. And among the many dishes on offer, purple rice stands out as a local favorite, prized not only for its rich flavor but also for its deep cultural significance.

But this banquet is just one part of the county's 20th International Twins Festival. Located along the Tropic of Cancer, Mojiang is widely known as China's "Town of Twins", with a twin birth rate significantly higher than the global average.

This year, more than 1,000 pairs of twins have gathered here, including participants from nearly 20 countries. Earlier today, they took part in a vibrant parade through the town, greeting residents and visitors along the route. It's a rare sight, and one that truly brings the festival to life.

There is no shortage of experiences for visitors. Visitors can join traditional circle dances around a bonfire, while live performances by local singers add even more energy to the festive atmosphere. Another well-known tradition sees people exchange blessings by smearing an edible black powder on each other's faces, symbolizing good luck.

Unique traditions, culture in Yunnan boost holiday economy