'Colorful Guizhou Style' unites Chinese and American youth

Students from Fort Worth, the United States, and Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, came together at the Guiyang Grand Theatre on June 21 for a vibrant cultural exchange performance as part of the 2025 Youth Ambassadors Summer Camp.

Their show marked another milestone in friendship-city relationships between Guiyang and Fort Worth, which began in 2011. Since then, the two cities have facilitated nine youth exchange programs, involving over 140 students, and have earned honors such as the Sino-US Friendship City Award and the China Friendship City Exchange and Cooperation Award from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Chinese and American students pose for a group photo with the cast of Colorful Guizhou Style on stage at the Guiyang Grand Theatre. [Photo/WeChat account of Shuangshuang Guiyang]

This year's camp, themed "Exploring Colorful Culture & Building a Bridge of Friendship", aimed to deepen mutual understanding through art, folk traditions, and cultural exploration.

American students began the performance with the upbeat country dance Boot Scootin' Boogie by Brooks & Dunn, showcasing Texas cowboy culture through their energetic moves. Guiyang students responded with graceful ethnic dance elements, blending the two cultures.

Following the students' showcase, the renowned Colorful Guizhou Style performance took to the stage. A flagship of Guizhou's cultural tourism, the show has been performed over 5,400 times and seen by more than 10 million people. It has toured more than 40 countries and regions, including the US, France, and Canada.