Singing their way to solidarity

Zhang Lingmin, the 74-year-old deputy head of the choir who doesn't speak Spanish, was on the trip.

"As we traveled, we sang. It's the songs that brought us closer to people. We feel we have made our own contribution to people-to-people exchanges," she says.

Liang Yunan is from Kunming in Yunnan province. The 71-year-old moved to Beijing to take care of her grandchild. As a former choir member, Liang felt fortunate to have found the choir, which she joined last summer.

"Spanish is not easy to learn, but the choir is like paradise for me. I love the passion and vibrancy of Latin American songs, they make me happy," she says.

Yang says the choir feels honored and proud to serve as the grassroots-level envoy for promoting exchanges between China and Latin America. "We are willing to continue doing this meaningful work," she adds.

Contact the writer at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn