For Chengdu and its sisters, sharing works

Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, embraced a single sister in 1981, but in the years that followed, it sprouted a large clan, adding 28 more. Its sister city relationships now include Haifa, Israel, a center of scientific research, and Horsens, Denmark.

All three place a premium on education, and that's been the basis of a happy family.

Lin Jingting, who is studying for a master's degree in molecular biology at the University of Haifa, said she is delighted by the increasing exchanges between Chendgu and Haifa, which forged ties in 2013. Each month brings new visitors from China.