Exclusive interview with Sun Yali, a descendant of the Sun Yat-sen family: The sour tree in the hometown of Hebei has allowed the spirit of Sun Yat-sen to once again take root in the people of Baodao

"The best memorial is inheritance, and the best inheritance is practice."

This year marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Recently, Sun Yali, Sun Yat-sen's great-niece and president of the Sun Yat-sen Cultural Foundation, gave an exclusive interview to the "Yan Xintai" studio of China News Network. Starting from the seeds of a sour tree, she explained why Sun Yat-sen's spirit still affects generations of Chinese people today.

In 1883, Sun Yat-sen brought back sour tree seeds from Honolulu and planted them with his own hands in the courtyard of his former residence in Cuiheng Village. On Arbor Day in 2026, Sun Yali carefully framed the seeds of the sorrel tree and presented them across the Taiwan Strait to Zheng Liwen, Chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang.

It is the seed of this ancient tree that has become an important carrier for Sun Yali to promote cross-strait people-to-people exchanges in recent years.

In order to facilitate the trip of Sour Seed Tree seeds to Taiwan and promote other exchange activities, she made preparations for nearly a year, during which time she went to Taiwan eight times. Finally, she brought the Sour Seed Tree seeds, which carry the common historical memories of both sides of the Taiwan Strait, to the island and completed the donation in Taipei.

Sun Yali lamented that grand ideas are sometimes difficult to convey, but a seed or a tree is a visible and growing token.

Sun Yali presented Sour Seed Tree seeds to Zheng Liwen. Photo provided by interviewee

Her footprints did not stop in Taiwan. This year, she also took Sour Seed saplings to Penang and Ipoh, Malaysia, and planted new saplings at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in the local Chinese communities, allowing the spirit of Sun Yat-sen to be passed down to a wider world.

Data map: Sun Yali at the 10th Taiwan Youth Lingnan Tour General Closing Camp and Exchange Achievements Display Event. Photo provided by interviewee

Sun Yali feels deeply about the hidden worries caused by "de-Sinicization" on the island.

She said frankly that many young people on the island are very unfamiliar with Dr. Sun Yat-sen, and some children don't even know who he is when they see his statue. Every time she sees this situation, Sun Yali feels distressed, worried, and even a little angry.

She said that at a time when cross-Strait exchanges are encountering setbacks, she hopes to start with exchanges at the non-governmental level and for youth groups, and gradually expand to broader non-governmental interpersonal exchanges.

Sun Yali said that the concepts of "the world is for the common good" and "fraternity and harmony" that Dr. Sun Yat-sen pursued throughout his life are the core of wisdom of Chinese culture that has lasted for thousands of years. It is not only the common spiritual wealth of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, but also provides useful inspiration for the current world changes.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen once said: "To restore the status of the nation, we must first restore the national spirit."

Sun Yali takes a photo with the statue of Sun Yat-sen. Photo provided by interviewee

In Sun Yali's view, the Sun Yat-sen spirit is one of the links connecting Chinese people around the world. For this reason, she initiated the establishment of the Sun Yat-sen Cultural Foundation.

"Mr. Sun Yat-sen's lifelong wish was national rejuvenation and national reunification, which is also the common pursuit of all Chinese people. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share this period of history and inherit this ideal. This common memory will not be artificially divided."

Sun Yali also hopes that more people from the private sector will actively participate and jointly make good use of this precious legacy left by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, continue to deepen cross-strait exchanges in the fields of culture, education, and people's livelihood, gradually dissolve mutual barriers, and enhance mutual understanding.

At the end of the interview, Sun Yali said that it takes time for a seed to break ground. Standing on the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, she hopes that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will continue his legacy and spirit and work together to promote national rejuvenation. (over)