Evan Kail looks at a bronze mask from Sanxingdui at Beijing's National Museum of China on Nov 19. JU HUANZONG/XINHUA
Standing in Tiantan Park in central Beijing, location of the Temple of Heaven, Evan Kail opened a copy of an old photo album, and tried to figure out how much things have changed over the past 90 years.
Dating back to World War II, the album contains photos of China at the time, including ones that document the atrocities committed by Japanese invaders. The US citizen, who manages a pawnshop, donated the album to China in 2022.Two years later, he decided to embark on a monthlong visit.
"I am where all these photos were taken, and to be physically present at the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and many other sites in China over the next month," he said excitedly at the beginning of his visit.
A month on, Kail says that China is different to the way it is portrayed in the media in the United States. "I recommend people from the US to come and check it out," he says.
The famous album
Before he arrived in Beijing on Nov 16, the news of his visit went viral on Chinese social media, with web users expressing their welcome, and inviting Kail to different parts of the country to have a look.
"The album is a record of the real situation of the Japanese invasion of China, and provides more historical details. In this sense, Kail deserves the respect of the Chinese people," wrote netizen Lu Xixin.
"Thanks to Kail for what he did, which will be remembered by the Chinese people," wrote another netizen nicknamed Haishangyilanghua. "Welcome to feel the warmth of the Chinese people."
The 35-year-old likes sharing his experiences on TikTok. Two years ago, he was given the photo album by one of his followers.
"They had vaguely mentioned a photo album of World War II from Asia, but they didn't provide many details, and only noted that the contents were disturbing."
Kail's first impression upon viewing the photos was that they were "gut-wrenching". He made a video about the album on TikTok two days after he received it, which attracted a great deal of public attention, particularly among Chinese.
"One of my rules when handling artifacts related to WWII is that if an item has any direct connection to a war crime, or holds potential historical significance, it doesn't belong in private hands. Instead, it belongs in a museum or a place where it can be studied and preserved for the public," Kail says. "I also wondered if the photos, if previously unknown, could have historical value beyond my means to assess."
He says he believes the album is part of Chinese history and could be of immense value to scholars, so he reached out to the Consulate General of China in Chicago and made the donation.
Japanese troops committed countless atrocities in China, the most notorious of which was the Nanjing Massacre, which took place when they captured the then Chinese capital on Dec 13, 1937. In the space of six weeks, the Japanese killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of WWII.
People have praised Kail for shedding more light on that part of history and some have even visited his store to express their gratitude.
Kail was overwhelmed by the response. "I was fortunate enough to attend good schools, and WWII was discussed in class countless times. But to see all these Chinese people expressing such emotion was a surprise," he says.
Kail poses with a Chinese tourist in front of the Zhengyangmen Gate on Tian'anmen Square in the capital. JU HUANZONG/XINHUA
Building connections
Kail's interest in WWII began before school. His grandfather was a captain in the US military in the Pacific. "The history of WWII was extremely significant to both my grandparents, and to my upbringing," he says.
The war deeply shaped his grandparents' lives, but like many in the US, his knowledge of China and its people, history and culture was limited. "Over the past two years, I have dedicated time to learning as much as I can about China," he says. "I've been reading books about Chinese history and culture, and studying Mandarin.
"I believe that many people in the US still know very little about China, often only bits and pieces from the news. We should take the time to know more about this populous country and its long history," Kail says. "I have made a lot of progress, and I am looking forward to making even more on this trip."
Kail began his trip in Beijing, and spent time in Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province — where he visited the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders.
"I am expecting this trip to be one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. After studying China, I am excited to finally see it with my own eyes," Kail says. "Most importantly, this trip marks the beginning of my lifelong journey as a representative of peace, friendship and unity between two great nations."
During his time in Beijing, the American managed to glimpse the real China, which he says is different from what he learned in the US. "To be honest, there seems to be some bias in US media," he says.
He gives an example to back up his statement. "Beijing is a very clean city," he says, adding that it is often portrayed in US media as dirty and polluted.
This year, Kail has made it his mission to foster understanding through cultural exchange between China and the US.
"I believe that the key to peace is communication, and the key to communication is understanding. The best way for the two peoples to understand each other is through the medium of culture. I am excited to build upon this vision," he says.
