A father and daughter, and later a son, spanning two generations of one American family, have woven an extraordinary tapestry of friendship with a remote county on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The father,柏立美 (Bai Lijun), dedicated nearly 30 years to living and working in Huangyuan, while his daughter, Meian, expressed a final wish to be buried there. His son,柏大卫 (Bai Dawei), considers Huangyuan his only true home, having helped raise funds for over 6 million yuan in medical equipment for the region. This enduring connection, stretching across more than a century, recently culminated in a touching video call that bridged the Pacific Ocean.
On September 10th, from his home in Springfield, Missouri, the now 95-year-old柏大卫 opened a photo album titled “Impressions”. He pointed to a panoramic image of Dangar Ancient City in Huangyuan from 1942, showing six children standing on a hillside. Identifying his younger self amongst them, he conversed in a remarkably fluent local dialect. On the other end of the screen, in Huangyuan, former hospital director Wang Shikang greeted him warmly, promising a meal of hand-grabbed lamb, while former health bureau chief Li Lin expressed the town’s enduring memory and appreciation for him.
In Huangyuan,柏大卫 is famously known by a local nickname that even features in a children’s rhyme about his love for local snacks. The story of why an American-born New Yorker is enshrined in local verse begins in 1932. When柏大卫 was just one year old, his father,柏立美, brought the family to this remote corner of northwest China.柏立美 had first arrived in 1908, living and working across Gansu and Qinghai before settling in Huangyuan, where he was embraced as one of their own. He learned local languages, respected customs, and provided free Western medical care to the community. During times of pre-liberation unrest, he even sheltered innocent local residents in a hidden cellar beneath his clinic.
Having spent his formative years in Huangyuan,柏大卫 eventually left with his family, later living in Hong Kong for over three decades before settling in the United States. Yet, his heart remained in his childhood home. To preserve his fluency in the local dialect, he would practice speaking with himself in the mirror daily, fearing he might forget it after so many years away.
In 1987, after a 38-year separation, he finally returned. He was deeply moved to reunite with a childhood friend and was overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing his old home. This visit ignited a lifelong mission to give back. Along with his sister Meian, he purchased a B-ultrasound machine in Hong Kong, which he personally transported by air. This was just the beginning of a 30-year effort, involving over 20 round trips to Huangyuan. He persistently raised funds, often from friends and foundations, donating everything from ultrasound equipment to a valuable CT scanner. His efforts were not taken for granted; local authorities and hospital staff recall his selfless dedication, noting that even though he was not wealthy, he was relentless in his fundraising for the county’s medical facilities.
His donations, valued at over 6 million yuan, transformed local healthcare, enabling clinics to perform basic checks and reducing the need for residents to travel long distances for care. Beyond equipment, his vision also extended to education. His father, an accomplished photographer, left a treasure trove of historical photos that柏大卫 donated to the county, which were compiled into an archive that fills a gap in local history. He also helped bring foreign English teachers to the local middle school, greatly improving the students’ language skills.
The connection is also deeply personal. Buried in Huangyuan are柏立美’s first wife and son, who passed away in 1927. In 2016,柏大卫’s sister Meian, on her deathbed in Canada, requested that her ashes be returned to her childhood home, a wish that was honored by her family. These burial sites are lovingly maintained by the local people, with a tree growing beside them symbolizing the enduring friendship between the community and the family. For his contributions,柏大卫 has been honored as an honorary citizen of both Huangyuan County and Qinghai Province, and was the first foreigner to be awarded the title of “Most Beautiful Huangyuan Person”.
Now, at 95 years old and unable to travel,柏大卫 faces health challenges but still maintains contact with his friends in Huangyuan, speaking in the dialect he holds so dear. His story is an integral part of the local hospital’s history, taught to new staff as an example of profound dedication. As the video call concluded, he sent a heartfelt message to the people of Huangyuan, promising he will never forget them. His journey, from his father’s arrival in 1908 to his video connection in 2025, is a remarkable testament to a family’s century-long love affair with a distant corner of China, a bond that time and distance have only strengthened.