"Saikausi" is Ronald Sakolsky, a retired history teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. In 1999 he came to Luoyang, Henan, through the Sino-US Teacher Exchange Program, teaching for a year at Luoyang Foreign Language School.
During his year in Luoyang, he saw a TV report about Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese woman fighting desertification in the Mu Us Sandy Land. Deeply moved, he raised $5,000 for her tree-planting cause. Back in America he kept his China memories close — even displaying a terracotta warrior statue gifted by the school in his classroom, telling students about China.
In May 2026, his former Luoyang colleagues launched an online search for "Saikausi" — a 27-year reunion story that moved millions. From August 23 to September 1, he returned to China at the invitation of the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange, visiting Inner Mongolia, Henan and Beijing: meeting Yin Yuzhen, touching the trees planted with his donation, planting new ones together, visiting museums, and reuniting with former students. People's Daily, CCTV and China News Service covered the whole journey.
Before leaving he said, "I don't really want to go home" — and promised that his first act back in the US would be to tell everyone: "Friendship between China and America is a must — it's in the world's interest." Kindness planted 27 years ago has grown into a forest — the most touching story of Sino-US people-to-people friendship.
Sycose (b. around 1970), American, lived in China in the 1990s and returned 27 years later, filming the astonishing changes on a "return to old places" trip.
His China memories: he lived and worked in China in the 1990s with vivid memories - the kingdom of bicycles, the ration-ticket era, old trains.
His return: 27 years later he came back, filming Beijing, Shanghai and Xi an, marvelling at skyscrapers, high-speed rail, mobile payment and the almost-vanished bicycle tides.
His comparison videos: using "then vs now" contrasts, his videos let audiences feel decades of Chinese change directly. He says "China changes so fast it is hard to believe".
Significance: he is a witness of "China transformation in foreign eyes" - his personal memory became a vivid footnote to Chinese development.
Lesson: his story reminds us China development stories need more "witnesses" to tell the world. 27 years is enough for a person to age and a country to renew.
He is also searching for Chinese friends from 27 years ago, showing old photos and asking netizens for help. He says "I want to thank them in person for their kindness back then." The search moved countless netizens to share. One American 27-year bond became the warmest thread linking ordinary people of two countries.
Finally: if you knew an American friend named Sycose in the 1990s, tell him someone is waiting. 27 years of friendship deserve a reunion.
He also showed keepsakes kept for 27 years - a calligraphy brush, an old map, a stack of photos. He says "these are worth more than plane tickets." His return is not just seeing new cities but reuniting with old memories. That depth gives his videos a unique "thickness of time".
