On July 1, the campus session of the 2026 Bond with Guling China-US Youth Baseball Friendly Match and Sports Exchange Week was held at Minjiang University. A total of 58 young representatives from three teams gathered on campus: West Neighbors Baseball Team from Virginia, USA, a youth delegation from Oregon, USA, and Fujian Provincial Baseball Team of China. They took part in various activities including sports interaction, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experiences and campus study tours.
Centered on sports competition and cultural integration, the event featured rich and diverse activities. During the ICH experience session, faculty and students from the School of Economics and Management guided participants to paint lacquer art on folding fans, allowing everyone to perceive the exquisite craftsmanship and timeless charm of traditional craftsmanship on small fan surfaces.
At the martial arts experience zone, teachers from the Department of Public Physical Education provided one-on-one coaching on the basic techniques of Dishu Quan (Ground Fist). Through form demonstrations and interactive drills, young American visitors intuitively appreciated the unique charm of Chinese kung fu that combines hardness and softness, as well as the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture.
At the archery experience area, American teenagers held their breath, drew bows and released arrows with focused minds, feeling the distinctive glamour of traditional Chinese sports culture through this classic ancient sport. Besides, at the Engineering Training Center, young US participants showed great interest in engineering hands-on programs such as robot operation, benchwork practice and 3D printing. Chinese and American teenagers drew closer and fostered deeper friendship through joint teamwork.
The Bond with Guling China-US Youth Baseball Friendly Match and Sports Exchange Week officially kicked off in Fuzhou on June 29. Co-sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the General Administration of Sport of China and the People’s Government of Fujian Province, the event attracted around 400 participants, including eight China-US youth baseball teams, Guling Friends, students from Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and sister-city representatives.
As a vital people-to-people exchange project implementing the China-US 50,000 Students in Five Years Initiative, the event draws on the century-old cultural brand of Guling. It integrates sports competitions, ICH experiences and sister-city cooperation, building a face-to-face communication bridge for Chinese and American youth.
Taking this activity as a valuable opportunity, Minjiang University will continue to deepen people-to-people cultural exchanges between Chinese and American youth, and help carry forward the lasting flame of non-governmental friendship.
