"It was so much fun to get to follow a robot dancing and just have fun on my first visit to China," said Miriam Vera, a dance teacher and chaperone from Leadership Brownsville, South Texas, as she watched a humanoid robot move in sync with the music. For Vera and her sister, who were leading a group of 20 students from the region, the robot was just one of many surprises on a trip that none of them had expected.
Vera was among 69 American students, educators and young professionals who visited Guangzhou on July 18 as part of the Flying Tigers Legacy Delegation.
Organized by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the group toured the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum at the Bai'etan Greater Bay Area Art Center and the Haixinsha Sci-Tech Innovation Island—a journey that wove together centuries-old craftsmanship and cutting-edge robotics.
For Matthew Reed Cocker, a student from Pennsylvania, the trip carried a sense of wonder he had never imagined. "I never thought I would be able to go to China," he said. "So it's like a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and it's kind of cool to see the different culture of China."
The delegation is part of an exchange program launched in September 2022 by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation. Its inspiration lies in a shared history: the Flying Tigers—the American Volunteer Group formed in 1941 under General Claire Lee Chennault—who came to defend China against Japanese invasion. On December 20, 1941, when they shot down Japanese bombers over Kunming, locals called them "Feihudui"—Flying Tigers—a name drawn from Chinese mythology where the flying tiger symbolizes invincibility.
Among the visitors were Micah and Josh Vinyard, grandsons of "Hump" pilot Jay Vinyard, who completed 87 supply missions over the eastern Himalayas. "Our grandfather Jay Vinyard, he was a Hump pilot," Josh said. "He flew the Aluminum Trail from India over the Burma Himalayas into China to drop off supplies. He completed the trip 87 times." During the war, 468 U.S. aircraft and 1,579 airmen were lost on that treacherous route—a sacrifice that remains etched in the memory of both nations.
Micah reflected on their grandfather's passing in 2021, but said the visit kept his spirit alive. "This is my second time in China but I've never been to Guangzhou," he said. "Just seeing the city and all this amazing technology—and the art museum was wonderful. I couldn't take enough pictures and videos. I just want to bring it all home with me."
For Vera, the experience went beyond sightseeing. "We are learning every second every minute of the China (Chinese) history, culture, tradition," she said. "So we are very lucky and very blessed to be here." She added: "It's important to have a good connection with both countries—(the) U.S, and China. So being able to be here and experience the Chinese culture and how great you guys are, and for you all to see how we are—it's wonderful. So celebrating every year, being in peace."
Samantha Joni Groff, a Pennsylvania student from Pequea Valley School, found the cultural exhibits eye-opening. "Honestly, I think everything here is really fascinating," she said. "You can really see their attention behind every single artwork and all the key artifacts." She also noted how the Flying Tigers story reshaped her understanding.
"I feel like the Flying Tigers are kind of like forgotten history. I know I definitely didn't know about it. It's just interesting to learn about something before it kind of is like not known anymore." One of her classmates had a personal connection: his great-grandfather had served with the Flying Tigers, and he had explained the story to the group before the trip.
Savannah Lantz, another student, found inspiration in the ceramics exhibit, noting her mother, who works with ceramics at home, would deeply appreciate the craftsmanship on display. "I'm really into ceramics because my mom does a lot of ceramics," she said. "So it's just very interesting to see a lot of work like that from other cultures, because I know she would appreciate it a lot."
To date, the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools Initiative has expanded to 25 provinces across China. For these young Americans, the visit was more than sightseeing—it was a chance to connect with a shared history that continues to resonate across generations, and to see a country that is both ancient and forward-looking.
As Groff put it: "With us, I feel like there's so much, especially in America, like they're kind of like thoughts about China. And I feel like it's very important that you kind of open up your mind to the history and stuff, and learn more about how we were together in it."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Video, photo & cover: Pan Jiajun
