Rongrong's family and Brecken's family take selfies at the hotel in Shanghai on March 22, 2025. Photo: Li Yawei/GT

At the beginning of 2025, US ban on TikTok prompted numerous US netizens to flock to Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, where they were welcomed by Chinese netizens with open arms. This led to a climax of cross-cultural exchanges, and the Global Times reporters witnessed how two families - the Rongrong family from Shanghai and the Brecken family from the State of Mississippi - nurtured digital friendship and extended the bond offline. 

Photos of these families holding their little ones went viral on X, garnering thousands of likes and heartfelt comments from around the world such as "Guys, isn't this just how the world is supposed to be?"

Photo: Screenshot from X

Despite oceanic divide, members of the two families are in similar ages, share common interests, each family has an adorable daughter. 

In March, the Global Times reporters had the opportunity to document the week-long offline union between the two trans-Pacific families in Shanghai. It is also a moment when the Global Times embarked on a journey to understand how "people-to-people exchanges" resonate over the time and connect people with many differences but sharing the sincerity to communicate and understand each other.

Sincerity as the melody

Exchanges could start from trivia, while sincerity never fails to shine.

The father Brecken Neumann downloaded Xiaohongshu simply out of curiosity, never expected to receive enthusiastic interactions from tens of thousands of Chinese netizens. He told the Global Times that since then, his daily routine became opening the app, translating conversations and laughing heartily with his Chinese friends. "They were so sincere! Casual curious questions I asked would get dozens of responses - some even with photos to illustrate," Brecken recalled.

As the interactions deepened, Brecken began to wonder: "Could some depictions of China by certain US media be distorted or even malicious?" And so, Brecken, who jokingly described himself as "henpecked," secretly booked flights to Shanghai for the whole family, eager to see China with his own eyes.

Upon meeting Brecken at the airport, the reporters noted that his appearance seemed somewhat different from how he saw in the videos, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly what had changed. When asked, the burly man standing over 180 cm tall broke into a shy smile and said, "I got a haircut and shaved my beard. I wanted to make a good impression on my Chinese friends!"

Sincerity also found tangible expression through the actions of Rongrong's family. When Meredith, Brecken's daughter, was in a grumpy mood due to jet lag, everyone tried to cheer her up, yet, Li Zi, Rongrong's husband, left the group and returned in 10 minutes with a box of strawberries.

"Meredith loves strawberries. This might help soothe her," Li said, with his shirt drenched in sweat when temperature in Shanghai neared 30 C.

Such bond connecting ordinary people of two countries very different in many areas, has prelude in the past.  

The Global Times uncovered some touching stories in July during a trip to Guling (Kuliang), a mountain retreat in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, where American and Chinese families once lived as neighbors. Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, shared with the Global Times touching stories of the Flying Tigers who helped the Chinese people fight the invading Japanese troops in the 1940s.

Greene highlighted the profound sacrifices made by the Chinese civilians to support the American airmen. He recalled that, at the time, Chinese villagers offered eggs, some cutting back on their own children's rations, so that the American pilots could have them - an "extraordinary" move. 

Chinese civilians also risked their lives to rescue downed American airmen. Greene noted that over 93 percent of American airmen who landed in China after being shot down were rescued by Chinese locals, despite the threat of Japanese retaliation.

This bond can be traced further back to 1920s. In Guling, the Global Times reporters learned the story of Dr Ruth Hemenway, 30 in 1924, traveled from Massachusetts to China. She introduced advanced medical techniques, expanded facilities and brought modern amenities like running water, electricity and telephones - a rarity in rural Minqing county at the time. Under her leadership, the hospital also pioneered surgical procedures in the region.

Brecken also told the Global Times that the sincerity they felt were not only from the Rongrong family but from the entire Chinese society.

Their kindness and warmth answered his question before departure. "China truly is a friendly nation, and we made the right choice coming here," Brecken said, "I truly hope that everyone is not 'led by the nose by certain Western media narratives,' but instead, see with their own eyes." 

Before returning to the US, Brecken family presented the Rongrong family with a handwritten letter in Chinese that read, "Thank you for everything you've done," giving back sincere kindness seen in the eraser marks on the paper, showing their hard practice to write down the Chinese characters.

Friendship as ripple

When parting with Brecken's wife Selina, she told the Global Times that during their stay in Shanghai, Meredith had grown two new baby teeth - a symbol of their friendship that has taken root. 

Later when sharing his experience in the US, Brecken reiterated "I hope everyone can let go of fabricated prejudices, communicate and visit in person - that is the truth worth seeing."

Brecken's sentiments are echoed by others. In May, GT reporters met the girls flag football team from Lincoln High School in the US playing with students from Shanghai Pinghe School.

On the playground, girls of different skin colors burst into laughter, sharing warm embraces and inscribing their names on the football as cherished keepsakes.

A US student signs a signature on a football during an interactive activity featuring flag football between the girls flag football team from Lincoln High School and Chinese students held at Shanghai Pinghe School on May 29, 2025. Photo: Chen Xia/GT

Reflecting on the trip, Shalls Jacome, head coach of the girls flag football team from Lincoln High School, told the Global Times that "has really opened my eyes to what daily life in China is like. I have enjoyed taking morning walks during this trip in order to experience the surroundings and really ground myself in Chinese culture."

The transoceanic story is continuing. Just a few days ago, the Global Times reporters learned from Brecken that Meredith had just celebrated her second birthday. For her special day, she received gifts that had traveled all the way from Shanghai - a beautiful set of Hanfu, traditional Chinese attires, and a panda plush toy. Brecken also told the reporters that they are planning to make Beijing the destination for their next trip with Rongrong's family. 

The stories of Rongrong and Brecken families are an epitome of countless people-to-people exchanges. Over the year, their friendship keeps growing; digging into history, we do not lack touching stories of such transnational ties; looking into the future, the next generation of Chinese and American youngsters are about to write their chapters. 

They all tell one theme that hearted connections can transcend cultures, geographical boundaries and prejudices, even in a time of uncertainty and turbulence.