“Three, two, one – hut!” shouts quarterback Mu Yang, as he throws the ball across the field.

His Beijing Cyclones teammate Henry Mu sprints to the corner for the catch, his studs thudding off the AstroTurf as he jumps for the ball.

“I was so surprised to find American football here,” says Henry as he catches his breath. “It’s very tough, physically and mentally, you must defeat your fear.”

Here, men and women play together in a team sport that you’d associate more with Baltimore than Beijing.

For many Americans, this is more than just a game – it is an expression of their national identity. For this Chinese team, it is something new – there are only a few thousand players in China, but millions of fans.

This is exactly the kind of “people to people” exchanges and cultural connection that Beijing wants with the US, as the two rival superpowers try to calm their tumultuous relationship.

Since President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco last November, China has been keen on emphasising what it has in common with the US rather than differences.

Beijing also appears to have adopted a softer diplomatic tone in recent months as it tries to attract foreign businesses to spur its slowing economy.

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