Erik Nilsson

American Mark Levine wears many hats in China—educator, author, volunteer, musician, sociologist,cross-cultural communicator and the winner of the Chinese government's Friendship Award.

The bushy-bearded 73-year-old is perhaps best known among the Chinese public for writing American country music style songs about China. He often sings and plays his guitar to the accompaniment of theerhuplayed by his friend,Fu Han.

Levine has staged hundreds of performances in 15 provinces, including on TV, on the Great Wall and in celebration of such events as the 115th birth anniversary of New China's first premier, Zhou Enlai, at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts. In fact, he chose to live in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province,when he first came to China in 2005 because it was Zhou's hometown,he says.

His songs expound upon such themes as China's trains,ethnic legends and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.“These songs not only tell about the problems, but also speak of the response—a unified response from the government, the People's Liberation Army and, most importantly, the Chinese people, who helped in the recovery from the consequences of these problems,”he says.

Fu says,“If people can listen to these songs,they will better understand China and be more willing to visit.”That's why she helped him record a CD for his 60th birthday.

“That's how his music career in China began.A group of tourists from northern Europe came up and watched and filmed us, and started singing with us. I realized a Chinese instrument and a Chinese face can help better tell China's stories to foreigners.”So,they officially became band mates.

Some songs are in English, while others are in Chinese—a language Levine doesn't speak but“sings very well”.“China helped Levine, and Levine also helped China. He tells stories with his songs and sings them with his heart.I hope he can sing China's stories to the world,”Fu says.