A sign stands in front of the redwood tree planted in the Hangzhou Botanical Garden in 1972 — a gift from the US during President Nixon's visit. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

Hangzhou, the city once praised by Marco Polo as "the finest and most splendid in the world", has nurtured deep and lasting ties with its American sister cities — Boston and Indianapolis — over the past four decades.

Through cultural exchanges, educational collaboration, and youth engagement, these partnerships continue to embody the spirit of friendship and mutual understanding between China and the United States.

The friendship traces back to symbolic moments such as the redwood tree planted in Hangzhou Botanical Garden in 1972 — a gift from the US during President Nixon's visit. Today, the towering tree stands as a living emblem of enduring friendship between the two peoples.

In 1982, Hangzhou and Boston became sister cities. Over the years, their exchanges have flourished — from cultural displays at the Boston Children's Museum to youth participation in the Boston Dragon Boat Festival, where the Hangzhou dragon boat stood out as a highlight. Boston even designated May 1 as Hangzhou Day in 2022 to celebrate their 40th anniversary of their friendship.

Educational cooperation has become another bridge connecting the two cities. Hangzhou Normal University and Butler University in Indianapolis recently signed a memorandum to strengthen collaboration in music education, adding new vitality to their 2012 sister-city relationship. Today, Hangzhou maintains 138 pairs of sister schools with US institutions.

Even today, the friendship continues to grow. This October, Hangzhou will host the 7th China-US Sister Cities Conference, welcoming over 200 delegates from across the United States. The event will feature forums on education, innovation, sustainability, and best practices, as well as youth art exchanges between American and Chinese performers.

From redwoods to dragon boats, from classrooms to concert halls, the friendship between Hangzhou and its US sister cities reflects a shared belief that people-to-people ties form the strongest foundation for cooperation.

A ceremony honors Boston's designation of May 1 as Hangzhou Day in 2022. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]