From July 28 to Aug 1, a delegation of youth from Los Angeles visited Guangzhou for a friendly match and cultural exchange.

On July 31, the delegation toured Yuexiu Park, admired the Five-Ram Statue, and exchanged gifts with local students. Together, they planted a friendship tree in the Guangzhou-Los Angeles Friendship Garden, commemorating 44 years of sister-city ties, which were launched in 1981.

The garden, established in 2021 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of sister-city ties, features Guangzhou's kapok and Los Angeles' bird-of-paradise flowers, alongside symbolic gifts like a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The youth bonded over the activity, with a Guangzhou student sharing, "This is just the beginning of our friendship - we hope to visit Los Angeles too."

As a key hub for the United States-China sub-national exchanges, Guangzhou hosted 244 US students in 2024, including climate leaders and youth envoys, reinforcing the role of youth and local ties in bilateral friendship.

Guangzhou and Los Angeles youth plant a friendship tree in Guangzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]