The painting that the British couple have cherished for 37 years. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

A video call bridged the distance between China and the United Kingdom on March 16, reuniting Nantong artist Feng Yan with a British couple residing in Swansea, a sister city of Nantong in Jiangsu province.

Their connection traces back to a Chinese painting titled Spring Scenery, painted in 1989 by a then-14-year-old Feng Yan, two years after Nantong and Swansea became sister cities.

This piece was produced during the visit of a British teachers' delegation to Nantong No 1 Middle School, where it was gifted to the British couple Mr and Mrs Niedergang. They brought it back to the UK, where it was carefully framed and cherished for 37 years, a constant reminder of the young, unknown artist.

Earlier this year, the painting attracted attention on social media, amassing over 250,000 views and leading to the rediscovery of its creator. Despite the eight-hour time difference and 9,000 kilometers between them, the 37-year wait culminated in a heartwarming online reunion.

Now a professional artist, Feng has created a new piece titled Watchtower, depicting Nantong's Zhiyun Tower on Langshan Mountain alongside Swansea's lighthouse, symbolizing the deep ties between the sister cities. In appreciation, the British couple sent a silk scarf, expressing their hope to visit Nantong once more.

This youthful artwork not only conveys the warmth of personal bonds but also stands as a vivid testament to the artistic collaborations and cultural diplomacy that have flourished between Nantong and Swansea since they became sister cities.