Entrance to the Hangzhou Sino-US Friendship Folk Museum. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_e925272f5b81]

As the 7th China-US Sister Cities Conference opened in Hangzhou on Oct 27 amid discussions on mutual trust and cooperation, a quiet story of enduring friendship drew special attention — that of 77-year-old Fan Zhuhua.

Seated among the audience, Fan listened attentively as delegates spoke about people-to-people exchanges. In her hands was a small book with a photograph of Fan and her husband Pan Jie, now 91 years old, as well as Henry Kissinger — a reminder of their life's work: the Hangzhou Sino-US Friendship Folk Museum, the only of its kind in China dedicated to chronicling the history of China-US friendship through personal stories and private collections.

Founded in 1998, the museum has become a unique symbol of grassroots diplomacy. Over the course of 27 years, the couple collected more than 10,000 documents, letters, and photos related to bilateral exchanges, traveling to the United States eight times despite language and financial challenges. The museum houses correspondence from former US presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as eight personal letters from Kissinger, whom the couple met twice in New York.

Their persistence has turned a modest home project into a lasting bridge of understanding.

"I'm deeply moved by their work," said Leslie Swartz, former director of the Boston Children's Museum and co-founder of the Boston Dragon Boat Festival. "It shows how personal commitment can keep the spirit of friendship alive."

Now located at No 419 North Zhongshan Road in Hangzhou, the museum continues to welcome visitors and volunteers inspired by the couple's vision.

As the China-US Sister Cities Conference reaffirmed, the bond between nations begins with people — and for nearly three decades, Pan and Fan have kept that bridge standing strong across the Pacific.

Pan Jie (R) and Fan Zhuhua (L). [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]