As two great port cities shaped by their waterways, New York and Shanghai share a deep history of cultural exchange between the US and China.

From the Huangpu River to the Hudson River, the two global cities continue to deepen their ties through culture, education, and dialogue.

"From Shanghai to New York: A Century-Long Cultural Journey Inspiring New China-US Dialogue", a core session of the third season of "Bund: A Global Urban Humanities Dialogue between Shanghai and New York", was held on June 29 at the China Institute of America in New York.

Bringing together young scholars and artists from China and the US, the event explored the convergence of technology, art, and philosophy, providing a platform for intellectual exchange among younger generations while fostering mutual understanding across cultures.

"This is not only an academic dialogue across geographical boundaries, but also a cultural exchange that connects history with the future," said Yu Yougen, education counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in New York.

"Shanghai and New York, two internationally renowned cities shaped by water, have maintained close and fruitful exchanges for decades. From the Huangpu River to the Hudson River, what crosses the Pacific is not only exhibitions and conversations, but also the shared aspiration of people from both countries to learn from one another," Yu added.

Zhang Huihong, deputy chair of the University Council of East China Normal University, said Shanghai and New York share more than their identities as global cities.

"Shanghai and New York are both cities shaped by water and recognized as international metropolises. Although they are thousands of miles apart, they share similar city spirits of openness and inclusiveness," she said.

"Through collaborative cultural creation and cross-ocean dialogue, we hope to explore more possibilities for people-to-people exchanges between China and the US," she added.

Founded in New York in 1926 by figures including Chinese scholar Hu Shih and American educators John Dewey and Paul Monroe, the China Institute of America is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the US dedicated to promoting understanding between China and the US through culture and education.

From July 9 to July 30, the institute’s gallery will feature more than 100 works created by students and faculty members from ECNU. The exhibition draws inspiration from the 1930 US tour of renowned Peking Opera artist Mei Lanfang, whose performances introduced Chinese opera to American audiences and marked a milestone in China-US cultural exchange.

Through prints, paintings, illustrations, animations, and AI-generated artworks, the exhibition explores how traditional Chinese art and intangible cultural heritage can be reinterpreted through contemporary design and emerging technologies.