For Everett Nicksic, a young American from San Diego who has been studying Chinese since kindergarten, the true value of mastering the language has never been clearer: it is a gateway to friendship and trust across oceans. “I used to have very few friends,” Nicksic shared. “But now, I have so many.”
Twenty-seven young people and community leaders from Baltimore of Maryland Orange County of California, and San Diego of California traveled to Xiamen from July 16 to 21, where they joined 12 local youth volunteers for the Friendships of Xiamen: U.S. Youth Ambassadors in Xiamen 2026.
Over the six days, the American and Chinese participants lived, learned, and worked side by side. Through hands-on activities — including marine exploration, technology workshops, homestays, and cultural experiences — they immersed themselves in Xiamen’s unique character, building cross-cultural understanding and lasting friendships.
During the event, Chinese and American youth used an AI-powered classroom system to explore text, image, audio, and video generation technologies, creating works inspired by Xiamen’s marine culture, ecological governance, and ocean economy.
At Xiatanwei Mangrove Park, Connor Nicksic from San Diego carefully planted a mangrove sapling with his friends. “Both San Diego and Xiamen are coastal cities,” he said. “I hope this little tree can contribute in its own way to protecting the ocean here.”
American youths got a hands-on introduction to acupuncture, cupping, and moxibustion at Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. They also tried puppet manipulation under the guidance of a master of this intangible cultural heritage, and explored the delicate craft of paper-cutting in a workshop.
Sophia Simoes from Orange County said, “Even with different languages and cultural backgrounds, laughing together with Chinese students while creating something was the best way to connect.”
Now in its third year, the event has brought over 80 young Americans to the city, nearly all of them first-time visitors to China.
