American friend Ronald Sakolsky has returned to China on a trip that has attracted extensive attention online. Many netizens have been closely following his itinerary, expressing concern that his advanced age, combined with long-distance travel and a demanding schedule, could affect his health.
Responding to these messages, Sakolsky spoke to reporters on August 28 during his visit to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan. He said candidly that he did not feel tired at all. On the contrary, he said the journey kept building up his energy, giving him a renewed sense of vitality and making him feel increasingly young.
On this revisit, Sakolsky has traveled through multiple regions—from the green forests of Inner Mongolia to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. Each place he visited, and each encounter he had, brought him a sense of warmth.
Speaking about his condition, he offered a vivid comparison. He said it was like a mobile phone that has run out of power and then restarts at a full charge. Wherever he goes, he said, his energy naturally starts to drop little by little. But once he is in China and sees the people and places he cares about, the fatigue disappears almost instantly, and strength returns throughout his body. That unique sense of healing, he said, keeps him full of spirit and makes the travel feel effortless.
Sakolsky said he was deeply grateful for the care and kindness shown by so many people online. He noted that many on social media had been worried about him, concerned that someone his age might not be able to handle constant travel. Yet, from his perspective, this trip to China was exactly the nourishment he needed. He said that compared with any of his previous visits, he now feels more relaxed and youthful and that this land, together with the goodwill of the Chinese people, has gently eased the fatigue accumulated over the years—helping him rediscover enthusiasm and energy.
He said he treasures every unreserved act of kindness from the public and hopes everyone can set their minds at ease and simply watch him walk freely, travel as he wishes, and calmly complete this long-awaited journey across mountains and seas.
Years ago, a trip to the Mu Us Desert led to a cross-border bond formed through efforts to combat desertification—a connection that has tied Sakolsky closely to this land ever since. After many years, he has returned from far away, seeing dramatic changes in the landscape and finding old friends doing well. Along the way, he has received countless moments of sincerity and warmth. This reunion—built on mutual commitment—and a simple friendship that crosses borders has become a vivid and moving example of people-to-people exchange between China and the United States.
(Reported by Liu Rui and intern Yang Bohan in Henan)
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