“This music and storytelling event was truly breathtaking—it struck a deep chord in my heart,” said Zhang Lili, President of the Union of Chinese American Professional Organizations（UCAPO）. “The live accompaniment by the orchestra from China made me feel especially connected. At this special moment, every melody seemed to be telling a story of history, allowing us to look back on those years of extraordinary struggle and to feel even more deeply the preciousness of peace and the strength of our nation.”

Chinta－a Professor from local university－remarked that the event provided profound insight into the China-U.S. collaborative resistance against fascism, offering meaningful historical lessons for today. He emphasized that this shared memory is not only a cherished legacy for both peoples, but also a vital source of strength for advancing sound and steady bilateral relations.

Chinta also praised the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra’s performance, noting, “The orchestra delivered a stellar performance—full of energy and technical mastery from a remarkable group of young professionals.”

Notably, the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra opened the concert with "The Butterfly Lovers" — a classic Chinese piece — showcasing Ningbo's rich culture and conveying romantic emotion through music.

The performance of the orchestra－a cultural symbol of Ningbo－highlighted both artistic excellence and the city’s aura of friendship and humanity.

On August 29, the music storytelling performance returned to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, carrying forward music as a "borderless language" to strengthen non-governmental exchanges and infuse new vitality into the WWII-forged China-U.S. friendship in the new era.

Newly Unveiled Archive

in Ningbo Sheds Light

on Doolittle Raid Rescue

This July, Ningbo Municipal Archives and Xiangshan County Archives made public a new batch of archival records documenting the rescue of Doolittle Raid pilots—some disclosed for the first time. This release offers fresh and invaluable insights into the study of that monumental period during China’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

In December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, marking the outbreak of the Pacific War. To counter Japan’s aggression, on April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle of the U.S. Army Air Forces led 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and successfully bombed Tokyo, Yokohama, and other cities in Japan—an operation later known as the "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo."

After completing the bombing mission, the air squadron failed to land at the designated Quzhou Airfield in China due to a series of unforeseen circumstances. Except for one aircraft that strayed off course and flew to the Soviet Union, the remaining 15 bombers were all forced down in the territories of Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces in China after running out of fuel. Of the 75 crew members aboard these 15 aircraft, 3 were killed, 8 were captured by Japanese forces, and 64 were rescued by Chinese civilians and soldiers.

Among the downed aircraft, 3 crashed within the jurisdiction of Xiangshan County, Ningbo City. One went into the waters off Niumen near Juexi Town; another into the sea off Dasha, Nantian Island; and the third into the waters around Daotong Reef, east of Dawanggong Village on Tantoushan Island. In each case, local Chinese civilians and soldiers promptly launched rescue operations for the pilots.

The recently released archives from the Ningbo Municipal Archives and Xiangshan County Archives include governmental documents and telegrams such as List of Personnel Acknowledged by the U.S. Forces Headquarters in China for Assisting American Airmen, as well as memoirs and photographs from local residents who participated in the rescue operations.

Notably, among the disclosed materials are two precious handwritten letters. Based on their content, these letters were appeals for help written by U.S. pilots to the soldiers and civilians who came to their rescue. Though the ink on the manuscripts has gradually faded with the passage of time, the courage and sense of responsibility demonstrated by military personnel and ordinary people during the war – as well as their contributions to the global anti-fascist cause – are embodied in every stroke of the writing and have never lost their enduring luster.

This invaluable collection of archives serves not only as a memory of history, but also as a warning for peace. Their release carries exceptional significance, especially in the context of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. They provide first-hand material for the study of Sino-U.S. cooperation and the efforts of Chinese soldiers and civilians in rescuing Allied airmen during the war. They also contribute to reconstructing historical details and filling gaps in previous research.

Moreover, these archives stand as a compelling testament to history, reminding people to remember the past.

Based on articles from Ningbo Evening News.

Translators: Pan Wenjie,

Pan Chengyang (intern), Zhou Shengli (intern)

Proofreaders: Yu Tianhao, Li Jinyu,

Huang Dawang, Jason Mowbray