Together with Wichita State University

I graduated from Wichita State University about a decade ago… and wow, has it changed.

The Braeburn Golf Course is now Braeburn Square (with several awesome restaurants, even a Pizza Shuttle?!).
The Innovation Campus didn’t exist.
And there are two Starbucks now.

This isn’t your dad’s Wichita State. Honestly, it’s not even my Wichita State (although I am pretty jealous). This is the new and improved WSU.

So if you’re a high school senior, or know one, don’t miss the 2026–27 Freshman Scholarship deadline on March 1. There’s plenty to go around.

Wichita Sister Cities

Wichita, Kansas, has established sister city relationships with four international cities to foster diplomatic, cultural, educational, professional, tourism and economic exchanges:

1. Orléans, France – This partnership began in 1973, rooted in historical ties dating back to 1944 when the Kansas 137th Infantry helped liberate Orléans during World War II.

2. Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico – Also established in 1973, this relationship has led to various cultural and educational exchanges, including student visits and art exhibitions.

3. Kaifeng, China – Formalized in 1985, this sister city connection has promoted cultural understanding through events like exhibitions showcasing Kaifeng's traditional arts.

4. Cancún, Mexico – Established in 1975, this partnership has facilitated exchanges in tourism and cultural events.

These relationships are coordinated by the nonprofit Wichita Area Sister Cities (WASC), which organizes events and exchanges to strengthen international ties.

If you're interested in participating in or learning more about these sister city programs, you can visit the Wichita Area Sister Cities website for information on upcoming events and membership opportunities.

The Sister Cities of Wichita

Orléans. Kaifeng. Tlalnepantla. Cancún.

Most of us drive past traffic cones on Kellogg every day without realizing Wichita has official relationships with four cities across the globe.

Not in a “we follow each other on IG” kind of way.

In a “we signed documents, exchanged students, hosted delegations, and share actual history” kind of way.

Wichita is part of Sister Cities International, a program started in 1956 by President Eisenhower to promote “citizen diplomacy”. The whole idea is that regular people building relationships across borders leads to peace, trade, and understanding.

Here are the four cities Wichita calls family.

🇫🇷 Orléans

Sister city since 1973

This one runs deeper than most people realize.

In 1944, during World War II, the Kansas 137th Infantry Regiment helped liberate Orléans from German occupation (aka the Nazis). That shared history laid the foundation for the formal sister city relationship nearly 30 years later.

Today, the connection honors that legacy while focusing on cultural and educational exchange.

Orléans sits along the Loire River and is known for its Gothic cathedral and its connection to Joan of Arc (who also liberated Orléans back in 1429). It’s also about the same metro size as Wichita (Orléans metro = ~454k, city of Wichita = ~402k, Wichita metro = ~640k) which makes the pairing feel less random and more intentional.

There’s something poetic about a Kansas regiment helping free a French city and decades later, that relationship becoming an ongoing civic friendship.

Did you know there is a Joan of Arc statue on Display at City Hall that was gifted to the City of Wichita in 1970 in gratitude for the aforementioned liberation and also in honor of Wichita’s centennial celebration. The original statue stood outside of the old downtown Library, but it was replaced with a cast copy when people were worried about the Kansas weather causing damage. The original is in storage.

We also had a fun visit from our French friends (or amis if you will) in April 2025.

🇲🇽 Tlalnepantla de Baz

Sister city since 1973

Established the same year as Orléans, this relationship has centered heavily around student exchanges, art, and cultural programming.

Tlalnepantla (try saying that three times fast…I can’t even say it one time slow…) is part of the greater Mexico City metropolitan area and is an important industrial and commercial hub.

That industrial backbone mirrors Wichita more than you might expect.

Exchanges have included student visits, art exhibits, and cultural showcases.

It all started with a visit from the Presidente Municipal (the Mayor) of Tlalnepantla in fall of 1973 and two weeks later the affiliation was approved.

We even gave a replica of Blackbear Bosin’s Keeper of the Plains in 1975 where it stands in their “Wichita Plaza”.

🇨🇳 Kaifeng

Sister city since 1985

Kaifeng is one of China’s ancient capitals, with more than 2,700 years of history.

Let that sink in.

Wichita was incorporated in 1870.

Kaifeng was flourishing before Kansas was even a twinkle in Coronado’s eye (fun fact: did you know that Coronado Heights was in fact not built by Franciso Vazquez de Coronado..little Landon would be so disappointed).

The relationship has included traditional art exhibitions, cultural showcases, and delegations. Kaifeng is known for its historic city walls, pagodas (temple or sacred building, typically with a many-tiered tower), lantern festivals, and deep cultural heritage. (anyone else think we should have a big pagoda in Wichita somewhere?)

These partnerships aren’t about politics. They’re about exposure. Students, artists, and civic leaders experiencing life outside their normal orbit.

In a city like Wichita, which is globally connected through aviation and manufacturing, having a sister city in central China reflects our quiet international footprint.

If you’ve ever been to Botanica, you may have seen the Chinese Garden of Friendship that stems from this relationship.

🇲🇽 Cancún

Sister city since 1975

Yes. That Cancún.

While most of us associate it with beaches and spring break, Cancún is also a major international tourism and economic hub.

This relationship has focused on tourism, culture, and business exchange.

And honestly? It’s not a bad flex for Wichita to have a sister city people willingly fly to.

But beyond the beaches, Cancún represents something bigger: Wichita connecting to global tourism markets and cultural exchange in Latin America.

In 1976, we sent them a replica of The Keeper of the Plains and in 1978 they returned the favor by giving a replica of the Mayan Rain God Chac which is at the Mid-American All-Indian Center.

We also have sent them school supplies like crayons, scissors, and paper which is nice since they did name their elementary school after us - Wichita-Cancún Elementary School.

Anyone else want to take a field trip to uhh… learn more about the sister relationship?

So what actually happens with Sister Cities?

These partnerships are coordinated locally by Wichita Area Sister Cities (WASC), a nonprofit that organizes:

• Student exchanges

• Cultural performances

• Art exhibitions

• Delegation visits

• Community events

A lot of this work happens behind the scenes. It’s not flashy, but focuses more on the relationships.

And that’s kind of the point.

Sister city programs operate on the idea that diplomacy doesn’t just happen between presidents. It happens between teachers. Students. Business leaders. Artists. Families.

Why This Matters for Wichita

Wichita is often described as a “big small town.”

(If I had a nickel for every time I have said that phrase, I would have a whole lot of nickels, maybe enough to visit Cancún.)

But it’s also:

• An aviation capital

• A manufacturing exporter

• A refugee resettlement city

• A place with global supply chains running through it

Sister city relationships reinforce something we don’t talk about enough:

Wichita is more globally connected than we think.

While larger cities may have dozens of sister cities, Wichita’s four relationships are longstanding with four established between 1973 and 1985 and rooted in either history or strategic cultural alignment.

They represent:

• Shared wartime history (Orléans)

• Industrial and cultural exchange (Tlalnepantla)

• Ancient global heritage (Kaifeng)

• Tourism and economic partnership (Cancún)

It’s a quiet kind of internationalism. Very Wichita if I do say so myself. Wichita is never very loud about the things we’re good at, although we should be.

Want to Get Involved?

If this sparks your curiosity, Wichita Area Sister Cities welcomes community involvement, memberships, and participation in exchanges and events.

Most of us will never serve as diplomats.

But we can host a student. Attend a cultural night. Volunteer. Learn.

And maybe next time someone asks, “Does Wichita have sister cities?”

You can casually say, “Yeah, France, China, and Mexico. No big deal.”

You can also check out their facebook page here.

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

Together with Rhea Lana’s of Wichita

Discover unbeatable deals at Rhea Lana’s Wichita Children’s Consignment Sale, February 22–27 at Century II Exhibition Hall. You could seriously outfit all of your kids from this one sale. Trust me. We have 3 kids and I highly recommend you check it out.

Score high-quality kids’ items at a fraction of retail prices.

Passes and full schedule here!

You can shop as early Saturday at 10am with a Silver Ticket.

You can also shop for free based on the following times:

• 12:00pm - 9:00pm - Moms-to-Be Entry

• 2:00pm - 9:00pm - Military, Teachers, and Healthcare Heroes Entry (must present photo ID/badge at door along with ticket)

• 4:00pm - 9:00pm - General Ticket Entry

One ticket admits you, plus a guest. Children 12 years and older will need a ticket. Complimentary ticket for Half-Price Pre-Sale is included.