—
At the 2023 Touching China Gala, which aired on CCTV General Channel on April 8, Ms. Elyn MacInnis was one of the ten recipients of the “Person Touching China” Award. The 72-year-old American is a friend of Kuliang and an honorary citizen of Fuzhou City.
Elyn MacInnis is an American scholar and a researcher on Kuliang, Fuzhou. Her family has maintained a friendship with China for three generations. With solid research efforts and a profound dedication to uncovering and preserving “Kuliang stories”, she has helped to build a bridge of friendly exchange between the peoples in the U.S. and China.
“The ancient cryptomeria tree, with its deep roots, narrates tales of enduring love and affectionate bonds at Kuliang.” This award citation from CCTV perfectly captures the deep-rooted friendship shared between Elyn MacInnis’s family and China.
Her father-in-law, Donald MacInnis, served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Flying Tigers and made numerous visits to China during his lifetime. He traveled across the ocean to support China during World War II and later taught English at Fukien Christian University. Even in his old age, he continued to volunteer his time teaching English at Wuyi Mountain.
During his summer vacation in Kuliang, he discovered a history of Chinese and foreign settlements spanning over half a century. It was a renowned retreat for both locals and foreigners within the Minjiang River basin and across China. Its lush green landscapes and cool summer climate attracted Western missionaries seeking escape from the sweltering heat. In the late 19th century, Kuliang witnessed the construction of its first foreign vacation villa. Gardner, the protagonist of the well-known “Kuliang Story”, spent ten consecutive summers at Kuliang before leaving China. Even on his deathbed, he yearned for his beloved Kuliang in his dreams.
Elyn MacInnis founded the website “Kuliang Friends” to discover more Kuliang stories lost over time. She visited libraries in the U.S. to gather information, collected and donated hundreds of materials such as slides, photographs, books, and toys, and compiled albums and books about this place. She also organized several trips for foreigners to explore their ancestral roots in the area. Her research has significantly contributed to the study of Chinese and Western cultural exchange at Kuliang. Her efforts have been instrumental in protecting and restoring ancient houses and uncovering the cultural legacy of this place.
The love and friendship for China runs deep in Elyn MacInnis’s family. She even changed the names of her twin daughters to Aizhong and Aihua to express her deep passion for China. Under the influence of their grandfather and parents, the two sisters developed an interest in traditional Chinese culture from a young age. They learned cross talk from childhood and could even sing arias from Peking Opera like “From the Sky Came Down Sister Lin”. The younger sister, Aihua, gained widespread popularity in China as a well-known CCTV host. She hosted popular programs such as “Talk Show in Teahouse” on “Zhengda Variety Show”.
For nearly a decade, Elyn MacInnis has been sharing a story of “peace, friendship, and love”. “The Kuliang story is a Chinese story, an American story, and a story that belongs to all humanity.” With confidence and excitement, she looks forward to the future.
Contact Info:
Name: Ivy Huang
Email: Send Email
Organization: Chinese Headlines New Media
Website: https://news.cctv.com/2024/04/10/VIDEGrvOPuU7GyeXxVcXyurv240410.shtml
Release ID: 89127068
Google
RSS