U.S. pawnshop owner donating WWII album to China rewarded special gifts
(ECNS) -- Evan Kail, an American pawnshop owner, received a warm welcome in China during his first visit, which began on Saturday. This visit follows his donation of an album containing photos that document the atrocities committed by Japanese invaders during World War II in China.
Kail arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport on Saturday. Among the welcome gifts and flowers, there is a folding fan with a built-in "BEIJING PASS" payment chip, which allows him to take the bus and subway and buy scenic spot tickets in Beijing.
On Sunday, when Kail came to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony, he received an old-fashioned military coat from a young man. This is the coolest coat he has ever had and Chinese people are very hospitable, said Kail.
The man who gave Kail this coat is from east China's Jiangsu Province. He noticed Kail's thinly attire and hoped that this coat would give Kail a warm start to his journey in China.
Many Chinese netizens also left their comments on Kail's posts to show their welcome and kindness, such as welcoming him to Chongqing for hot pot and to Zibo, Shandong Province, for barbecue.
According to Kail, in August 2022, he received the album from a client in Shanghai before moving on to Nanjing, where the brutal history of the Nanjing Massacre occurred.
After posting some photographs from the album on TikTok, Kail received life threats, compelling him to wear bulletproof vests for protection.
On Nov. 17, 2022, he decided to donate the album to the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. Then the Consulate General gave him a surprising national gift, an exquisite porcelain tea jar as a gift along with a letter. Kail then learned from netizens in China that this is a precious gift from China to foreign friends, which represents China's profound friendship and high recognition.
Kail said he would stay in China for about a month and visit a few cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Nanjing.