China News Service, Zhangzhou, February 3, Title: China and the United States good friends "gather in the cloud": Renew the friendship across the Pacific

　　Author Zhang Jinchuan, Liao Zhenmei Lu Meilian

　　"My friend, you have grown taller. Have you received the letters and gifts I sent you?"

　　"I'm on winter vacation, and I just sent you a letter. Remember to check it."

　　One is American artist Carla, and the other is Huang Yicheng, a little boy from Zhangzhou, Fujian, China. The traditional Chinese New Year is approaching. Two close friends who are more than 20,000 kilometers apart have not seen each other for more than half a year. They met in the ancient city of Zhangzhou to "gather in the clouds" and renew their friendship across the Pacific.

On the evening of January 31, Chinese little boy Huang Yicheng and American artist Carla met for a "cloud gathering" in the ancient city of Zhangzhou, Fujian. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　Red lanterns and lanterns can be seen everywhere in the ancient city of Zhangzhou, adding to the growing flavor of the New Year. Huang Yicheng had a video connection with Kara for the first time, "It's winter vacation, and I want to share my final exam results with Aunt Kara, tell her that the Chinese Spring Festival is very lively, and invite her to come to China..."

　　When she learned that her "little pen pal" had scored 100 points in the English test this semester, Kara was overjoyed: "I'm so proud of you, you're great! Is it because of my encouragement that you got a perfect score?"

　　Huang Yicheng nodded repeatedly to Carla and introduced to Carla: "The Spring Festival is the day he is most looking forward to. The streets and alleys are decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. My parents will take my brother and me to visit temple fairs, view lanterns, and set off fireworks. I You can wear new clothes, get lucky money, and eat all kinds of delicious food."

　　"The headdress on this little girl's head is called 'Hairpin Wai', which is a national intangible cultural heritage..." Walking in the ancient city of Zhangzhou, Huang Yicheng also transformed into a "little commentator" and introduced Zhangzhou to Kara through video connection Beautiful night view of the ancient city.

　　When Carla asked the tourists on the street what they were sitting and eating, Huang Yicheng replied: "This is to make tea by the stove. You can eat snacks and watch the scenery." Carla was very interested, "I also want to make tea by the stove. Next time I go Take me to Zhangzhou."

　　Huang Yicheng is a student at Nanjing County Experimental Primary School in Zhangzhou City. He met Kara at Yunshui Yao in Nanjing. It was May 2023. Kara led a delegation of well-known American artists to participate in the "Qu Tao" Zhangzhou Culture and Art Week event. When Yun Shuiyao visited, she met Huang Yicheng and became a close friend across national boundaries and ages.

　　"You teach me Chinese, and I'll teach you English." From then on, the two exchanged letters, and the "reverberation" of an encounter in Yunshui Yao never ceased.

The file picture shows Kara meeting Huang Yicheng while visiting Yunshuiyao, Nanjing County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, and they agreed to become pen pals. Photo by Liao Zhenmei

　　"Aunt Carla's zodiac sign is Sheep. Last year, I sent a small ornament called 'Three Sheep Kaitai' which represents auspiciousness." Huang Yicheng told the China News Service reporter that a month later, he received a letter from Carla from the United States. In the letter, Carla introduced She talked about her family, expressed her love for Chinese culture, and also included a photo of her and her pet dog.

　　Huang Yicheng also wrote back to Kara, introducing the customs and customs of Zhangzhou, "I hope to share Chinese culture and stories with Kara." The two also exchanged greeting videos. Knowing that Carla could not forget the croaking frogs in Zhangzhou's countryside, Huang Yicheng folded a frog and gave it to Carla, hoping to "listen to each other and share happiness with each other."

　　In October 2023, Kara published a commentary article "Between China and the United States Starts with Listening" in the New York Times. She started with the word "bosom friend" and told the story of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi "meeting bosom friends in high mountains and flowing water" that has been passed down through the ages in China. She said that "this word contains huge power." Later, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng reposted this article on social platforms, praising the friendship between Huang Yicheng and Kara.

On January 31, Chen Lihui, the inheritor of Zhangzhou Bag Puppetry, appeared in a video, performing Chinese dragon dance for Kara with Huang Yicheng. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

Chen Lihui performed a bag puppet show for Kara. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhang Jinchuan

　　In the ancient city of Zhangzhou, another friend of Kara's in China, Chen Lihui, the inheritor of Zhangzhou Bag Puppetry, also appeared in the video, performing a Chinese dragon dance with Huang Yicheng. Kara was pleasantly surprised by the sudden "eye blessing".

　　"The dragon is the totem and unique cultural symbol of the Chinese nation, which means might and strength, and symbolizes wisdom and auspiciousness." Chen Lihui introduced Chinese dragon culture while performing. He also performed a bag puppet show for Kara and presented the Chinese song "Happy New Year" 》.

When ending the video connection, Kara expressed her heart again with her hands and agreed to meet again next time. Photo by Lu Meilian

　　"I love you and hope to meet you soon this year, whether in the United States or China." At the end of the video connection, Kara expressed her heart again with her hands and agreed to meet again next time. (over)