During the inaugural Kuliang Forum, the "Stories of China-U.S. Friendship and Cooperation" collection activity was officially launched. Jointly organized by the Chinese state media outlets the People's Daily and the Global Times, the initiative invites individuals and organizations worldwide to share their stories, continuing the legacy of Kuliang's historical ties.
The forum was held in Beijing on December 20, 2024, aiming to enhance understanding and promote people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. It brought together over 150 representatives from the political, academic, media, and business sectors, as well as youth and members of the "Friends of Kuliang" organization.
The announcement was featured on the upper-right corner of page 10 of the People's Daily on December 25, Christmas.
The Origin of the Kuliang Story
The Kuliang story traces its roots to Milton Gardner, an American who lived in Kuliang, Fuzhou, with his family from 1901 to 1911. Though Gardner never returned to Kuliang after moving back to the United States, his memories of the place remained vivid.
On his deathbed, he whispered "Kuliang" repeatedly. His wife, Elizabeth Gardner, with assistance from a Chinese student, Liu Zhonghan, discovered that Kuliang was in Fuzhou. Liu wrote their story in the article "Ah! Kuliang," which was published in the People's Daily in 1992.
Then-Fuzhou Party Secretary Xi Jinping read the story and invited Mrs. Gardner to visit Kuliang. On August 21, 1992, she arrived in Fuzhou and the next day visited Kuliang, fulfilling her late husband's lifelong dream. The newspaper documented her journey in the article "Bond with Kuliang," published on September 26, 1992. In 2012, Gardner's grand-nephews visited Kuliang, further strengthening the enduring bond between the two nations.
Missionaries and Kuliang International Community
Kuliang's history as a summer retreat dates back to 1885 when Congregational missionary S. F. Woodin discovered its cool climate while traveling to Lianjiang. Foreign residents in Fuzhou, struggling with the region's intense summer heat, found Kuliang an ideal refuge due to its proximity, accessibility, and favorable weather. It soon became a vibrant hub for expatriates, including merchants, diplomats, and missionaries.
Beyond its role as a seasonal retreat, Kuliang served as a center for work and social gatherings. Many important decisions for the six missions in Fujian were established there, including the founding of the Foochow Christian Union Hospital. Additionally, Kuliang became a place where many single missionaries formed lifelong partnerships. Many children were born here, and the residents came to consider Kuliang and Fuzhou as their home. These narratives collectively form the cherished "Kuliang Story."
Kuliang Story Develops
Through media coverage, more descendants of Kuliang's former residents have been drawn to visit the area, uncovering stories of their ancestors. Among them is Peter MacInnis, like Milton Gardner, who spent his childhood in Kuliang.
In 2015, Peter and his wife, Elyn MacInnis, traveled to Kuliang to locate "Skye," a cottage named after their family's Scottish heritage, originally purchased by Peter's father, Donald MacInnis. During their visit, they discovered an old map of Kuliang's villas, marked only with numerical identifiers. Staff explained that the map had been donated by a foreign friend, but detailed ownership records were long lost.
Determined to recover this history, Peter and Elyn began an extensive search in 2016, traveling across the United States at their own expense. That same year, Elyn founded the "Friends of Kuliang" in the U.S., bringing together over 50 members, including former residents and their descendants.
Elyn visited archives at Yale, Harvard, and other universities to collect additional information. They identified the original owners of Kuliang's villas and collected over 1,000 items, including documents, photographs, and artifacts related to Kuliang's history.
Kuliang Spirit: Equality, Mutual Respect
Elyn described Kuliang as "extraordinary" nearly a century ago for its harmonious coexistence of expatriates and locals, who learned from one another. Merchants, diplomats, and missionaries established schools, hospitals, and vocational training for Chinese students, while local residents helped build homes and provided food for the foreign community.
She highlighted "understanding" and "respect" as essential to fully capture the spirit of Kuliang, alongside "peace, friendship, and love." "People from different cultural backgrounds need to observe carefully, strive to understand, and respect one another. Only then can we foster friendship, love, and peace," she said.
The photo album cover from Dr. Edward L. Bliss's family, displayed at the Kuliang Family Stories Museum, reflects this spirit. Crafted with Fuzhou lacquer, it features the words: "Confucius said, 'Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself,' and Jesus said, 'Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.'"
Dr. Lin Yinan, dean of the Landscape Architecture Department at East China University of Science and Technology, echoed these sentiments: "The Kuliang Story centers on equality and mutual respect. Despite differences in lifestyles, languages, and beliefs, understanding and respect can bridge these divides, fostering lasting friendships that transcend generations."
