How a red-crowned crane became an unlikely ambassador for friendship and cooperation between China and the United States

As California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife toured the Jiangsu Yancheng Wetland & Rare Birds National Nature Reserve in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, in 2023, a one-year-old red-crowned crane wandered out of the flock and joined the visiting delegation. Unfazed by the cameras and crowds, the bird stayed close to the couple throughout the tour, as if acting as an impromptu guide.

Amused by its confidence and curiosity, Newsom gave the bird a name on the spot: California.

Few could have imagined that the encounter would become the beginning of a story stretching thousands of miles across the Pacific.

Known today as "Crane Cal," the bird quickly became an online sensation in China. Beginning in 2024, accounts bearing its name on overseas social media platforms started sharing stories about China's wetlands, wildlife conservation efforts and local culture in a playful first-person voice. Through what followers affectionately call "crane talk," Cal introduced global audiences to life in China, attracting fans from around the world.

What began as a charming wildlife story gradually evolved into something larger—a symbol of friendship between Jiangsu and the state of California, and of the people-to-people exchanges that continue to connect China and the United States.

This year is the 15th anniversary of the sister-province/state relationship between Jiangsu and California. On June 5, the story came full circle when the cultural exchange event From Jiangsu to California: A Red-Crowned Crane's Journey Across the Ocean took place in San Francisco.

Where the story began

To understand why a single crane could resonate so deeply, one must begin in Yancheng.

Located along the Yellow Sea coast, the city is home to the world's largest wintering habitat for wild red-crowned cranes. Its vast coastal wetlands, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, provide critical habitat for hundreds of cranes and millions of other migratory birds traveling along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

For conservationists, the red-crowned crane is a flagship species whose successful return from the brink of extinction reflects the health of an entire ecosystem. For generations of Chinese people, however, the bird has carried additional meaning. It has appeared in poetry, paintings and folklore as a symbol of longevity, harmony and the enduring bond between humanity and nature.

That dual identity—ecological icon and cultural symbol—helps explain why the crane has become such a powerful ambassador of friendship.

And perhaps no envoy is better suited to connect China and the U.S., two nations separated by an ocean, yet united by a growing commitment to sustainable development.

Beyond the wetlands

Newsom's 2023 visit to Jiangsu was not limited to the wetlands where he met the young crane.

Like California, Jiangsu is a coastal economic powerhouse where the future is increasingly tied to the green economy. Both are investing heavily in climate action, technological innovation and environmental protection. Both face common challenges ranging from coastal resilience to clean-energy transition.

At a Yancheng factory operated by Chinese clean-energy company Goldwind, Newsom got a firsthand look at its advanced products. Standing before a 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine—then the world's largest single-capacity unit—he asked detailed questions about its performance at different water depths and its viability for California's coastline.

The discussion soon expanded beyond wind power. Experts from both sides exchanged views on seawater desalination, renewable-energy-powered hydrogen production and other emerging technologies that could help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.

The visit also produced a significant outcome: a memorandum of understanding on climate and environmental cooperation between Jiangsu and California, building on decades of exchanges in sustainability, ecological protection and cultural engagement.

A new chapter in San Francisco

The story of friendship and cooperation between Jiangsu and California gained fresh momentum at the June 5 exchange event, held at the San Francisco Zoo and brought together more than 300 conservationists, educators, community leaders and government representatives.

The gathering formed part of the broader China-U.S. local-government and people-to-people dialogue efforts being undertaken following the China-U.S. summit in Beijing in May.

Newsom sent a congratulatory letter welcoming the Jiangsu delegation and expressing appreciation for the longstanding ties between California and Jiangsu. Reflecting on his 2023 visit, he highlighted the importance of continued cooperation in environmental protection, climate action and cultural exchange, while expressing hope that the bonds between the peoples of California and Jiangsu would continue to grow stronger.

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on three major themes: green development and urban governance, culture and tourism, and education and youth engagement.

During the event, the San Francisco Zoo and the nature reserve in Yancheng signed a memorandum of understanding on ecological cooperation, creating a new framework for collaboration in wildlife conservation and habitat management.

The document calls for joint research and technical exchanges focused on key species, including red-crowned cranes and sandhill cranes. It also includes plans to develop bilingual educational resources, establish talent-exchange mechanisms and cultivate a new generation of conservation professionals capable of working across cultures and disciplines.

Following the signing ceremony, the two sides exchanged gifts, symbolizing not only friendship but also a shared commitment to protecting biodiversity.

San Francisco Zoo CEO Cassandra Costello said at the event that, as the zoo approaches its centennial anniversary, establishing a partnership with the nature reserve in Yancheng represented a milestone for both institutions and a fitting way to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the sister-province/state relationship.

Costello emphasized that wildlife conservation and environmental education transcend national borders. Through joint initiatives, bilingual educational resources and professional exchanges, she said, the two organizations hope to strengthen ecological awareness among local communities while passing on a spirit of environmental stewardship to future generations.

Migratory birds know no national borders. Each year, they travel thousands of miles across continents, linking ecosystems, communities and cultures. Their survival depends on cooperation that extends far beyond any one region. The same is increasingly true of humanity's shared challenges. Issues like climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development all require partnerships that cross borders and connect people who may never meet but nevertheless share a common future.

Back in Yancheng, Crane Cal still wanders the wetlands. Sometimes, the shortest distance between two peoples is measured not in miles, but in the flight of a crane.