The 10-day "Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival", which concluded on Friday, has not only showcased the musical talents of young people from both nations, but also served as a platform for promoting mutual understanding and building lasting friendships that transcend borders.
It's one of the largest youth exchange events between the two nations in recent years. Around 1,000 young participants from nearly 30 choirs across both countries came together in Fuzhou City of east China's Fujian Province and in the capital Beijing, using music as a universal language to interact with each other.
Although many U.S. students were visiting China for the first time, they quickly connected with their Chinese peers over shared interests -- from pop icons and video games to nail polish -- and above all, music.
When asked about her favorite singer, Ni Shitong, a member of the Tsai Chi-Kun Academy of Music Choir at Minjiang University in Fuzhou, said, "Justin Bieber."
"We like Justin Bieber too. Growing up, we listened to a lot of his music," responded Rachel Davis, a member of the U.S.-based Pure N Heart Choir, with a big smile.
"I play a video game called 'Grand Theft Auto 5'," said Dan Xiang, another member of the Tsai Chi-Kun Academy of Music Choir.
"We play that too," responded Davis, highlighting the ease with which the young people bonded.
The event also featured spontaneous street performances by the U.S. students, with one particularly moving rendition of the classic "We Are the World" by late pop icon Michael Jackson.
"I think we picked 'We Are the World' to show that we can come together as one, and because it literally says in the song to come together as one. And so we can all share similar things that we all love and we all can sing. And I'm pretty sure we all love singing. So we chose that song, so we can all be as one," said Audrianna Burns, a member of the U.S.-based Tacoma Youth Choir.
Beyond music, the U.S. choirs also visited historically significant sites, including Kuliang, or Guling in Mandarin, a historic summer resort in Fuzhou where generations of American families once lived and forged deep and lasting ties with the local community over a century ago. These cultural roots continue to thrive today.
"I would describe my experiences as eye-opening, just because like you said, you come over here and you immerse yourself or get exposed to the culture here and you change," said Davis.
Alphaeus Anderson, founder of the Pure N Heart Choir, emphasized the importance of investing in youth exchanges.
"I think it's a good investment to invest in the next generation for our future, because students or young people are [like] wet cement. Wet cement, basically, it's not hard yet. You can write the story, you can train, you can build up, you can nurture, and you can empower," said Anderson.
10-day choir festival weaves lasting bonds between Chinese, American youths through music
