The gates of diplomacy swung open not for high-level talks or protocol meetings, but for dumplings, dancing and decades-old memories on a warm summer evening in Hell's Kitchen.

The Chinese Consulate General in New York opened its doors to local residents on Tuesday for its first community open house, offering a chance to connect with neighbors and celebrate cultural exchange. The evening featured Chinese traditional performances, art, photo exhibitions and personal stories — some reaching back more than four decades — that together painted a vivid portrait of enduring US-China friendship.

"As an old Chinese saying goes, 'distant relatives are not as helpful as nearby neighbors'," Chinese Consul General Chen Li said in his opening remarks. "It's a good time for all of us to say 'hi' to each other, formally establish connections and share your China story, or maybe start your journey to China for the first time."

"Many of the friendly faces here tonight are people I pass by every day on my way to and from work," he said, welcoming guests at the open house. "In our culture, a harmonious relationship is not only a source of personal happiness but a foundation for a stable society."

Delaney Masal, a 29-year-old Manhattan resident who recently traveled to China, joined the open house.

"It's just been a great way to experience some Chinese culture … I had such a wonderful time in China in March, and getting to come back and see it here now is really exciting," she told China Daily.

"There's a big community feeling here, a sense of camaraderie, which feels like a really wonderful thing," she said, encouraging more people to travel to China. "I think it's great there's a 10-day 'no-visa policy' — anybody could just decide to go over and visit for a couple of days. I felt such a beautiful sense of community when I was there."

Saundra Barnes, who taught in China in the 1980s, proudly wore a vintage Sun Yat-sen University T-shirt to the event.

"When I taught there — it was in the mid-80s," she said. "This [shirt] is 40 years old … I saved two from back then," she told China Daily. "I taught scientific English, and all my students were the top 10 percent of the entire Chinese population."

"My year that I taught was quite enlightening. It was a different time than I'm in now, because 40 years ago, everybody knew it would be a very different period. However, it was an educational experience on both ends," she said.

Saundra said she was heartened to reconnect with old memories through cultural activities in the city, continuing a friendship that extends beyond the academic ties of decades past.

"I just wanted to tell stories. There are a lot more where that came from," she said. "China was wonderful for me."

The open house also featured a photo exhibition highlighting enduring stories of friendship between China and the US, including the legacy of the American Volunteer Group, nicknamed the Flying Tigers; the historical ties in Kuliang, Fujian province; and the experiences of Jewish refugees who lived in Shanghai.

Rex Rivolo, founder of the Rivolo Collection, former engineer and an astrophysicist, shared his background connecting military service and cultural diplomacy between China and the US.

Rivolo was also a member of the Flying Tigers, as the legacy of the team was carried on in the US Air Force.

"The Air Force kept the title and passed it on to different squadrons. In 1970, I was in one of them," he told China Daily. "That was a very good time between China and America. That's the legacy."

Now working in the art and collections field, he continues to foster cultural exchange between the two countries.

"We currently have an exhibition at the Shanxi Museum," he said. "They'll later send Chinese bronzes to us for a show in the US. That's cultural exchange."

mingmeili@chinadailyusa.com