Feel the vitality in the flavor of the year, China

　　Gilm and his wife Xu Jieyuan are shopping for Spring Festival decorations at Zhongyuan Road New Year Market in Puyang, Henan Province. Photo courtesy of respondents

　　During the Spring Festival, in Sanbao International Porcelain Valley, Zhushan District, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, Gabe Botian (first from right) and friends from China wrapped jiaozi to celebrate the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit. Photo by Yang Chengcheng

　　Alex is at Chongqing International Communication Center. Zhang Gaowei photo

　　On January 20th, a string of red lanterns decorated the Cuihu Park in Kunming, Yunnan with jubilation. Two foreign tourists felt the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival in the Year of the Rabbit. Photo by Yang Wei (image China)

　　This year’s Spring Festival is the first Spring Festival when the epidemic prevention and control in China has entered a new stage. Tourists in popular scenic spots are weaving, and the recovery of tourism has driven the catering, accommodation, retail and other service industries to continue to pick up, and fireworks are rising everywhere, which is full of strong flavor of the year. The reporter interviewed a number of foreign friends who celebrated the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit in various parts of China, and listened to their stories about the year and witnessed a vibrant China together.

　　Canadian media people working in Chongqing International Communication Center — —

　　Open a live broadcast of the New Year to tell the world the story of China.

　　Reporter Chang Biluo

　　The street is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the hot pot restaurant is full of people. At present, it is the busiest time in Chongqing. Alex White fished out a piece of spicy beef from a steaming hot pot, mixed it with dipping sauce, took a bite and gave a thumbs up.

　　This year is the second time that the 52-year-old Canadian has spent the Spring Festival in China. "Walking in the street, people’s faces are filled with smiles. The atmosphere here is too noisy! " As a foreign employee of Chongqing International Communication Center, Alex likes to record his life with a lens. Red lanterns, bubbling hot pot and colorful lighting … … In his lens, this year’s Spring Festival in Chongqing is particularly jubilant.

　　As early as 2002, Alex came to China to work in trade. In Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, Alex has traveled through many cities in China. In 2021, he settled in Chongqing and became a media person, introducing Chongqing and China to the world.

　　"This Spring Festival, I feel that China’s economic vitality has been further released after the COVID-19 epidemic." Alex said that the street was bustling and crowded, restoring the excitement of the past. "There are many foreign tourists in Hongyadong. Everyone tastes local food and takes photos with their mobile phones to record this festive Spring Festival."

　　Because of the need of work, Alex often travels by train. Before and after the Spring Festival, Spring Festival travel rush, who was busy, made him the most unforgettable. There were also many returnees carrying big bags and small bags in his lens. "After working outside for a year, they finally set foot on the train home." Reunion is Alex’s impression of the Spring Festival. "No matter how far away, people have to go home to reunite with their loved ones."

　　This year’s Spring Festival, Alex walked into Xinglong Town, Yubei District with shooting equipment, learned about the rural New Year customs there, and showed the Spring Festival culture to the world through video and live broadcast. "What is commendable is that we can see that traditional cultural customs have been well preserved here, and that local infrastructure is becoming more and more perfect. Big data and artificial intelligence have been applied to grassroots governance, and villagers have lived a more comfortable life." He said.

　　Chaotianmen Market in Yuzhong District is Alex’s favorite place to visit in Chongqing. "There are all kinds of special snacks and cheap clothes. Look at this shirt on me, I bought it at Chaotianmen Market." Before the Spring Festival, Alex and his wife went to Chaotianmen Market to find a lot of new year’s goods, and dressed up their own flavor. Not only that, Alex did as the Romans do, specially bought chafing dish ingredients, and invited friends from China to come home for dinner to celebrate this most important festival for Chinese.

　　On New Year’s Eve, Alex started a special Chinese New Year live broadcast in front of the camera. That night, a light and shadow drone fireworks show called "New Era, New Journey, New Chongqing" was held at the intersection of the Yangtze River and Jialing River. Alex introduced this grand event to the world through live webcast, attracting more than 100,000 netizens to watch. “3、2、1… …” When the countdown ended and the Chinese New Year bell rang, Alex cheered and made his own New Year’s wish: "I look forward to recording more China stories through my lens in the new year." At the end of the live broadcast, he gave a big smile to the camera and sent an invitation from China to netizens: "I love China and hope more friends from all over the world can visit China."

　　Yemeni technicians engaged in research and development in Guangzhou, Guangdong — —

　　"Reunion and affection make people feel warm."

　　Reporter Jiang Xiaodan

　　"Happy New Year! Happy New Year! " At the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, Mualim Mohammed (Chinese name Bila) from Yemen warmly exchanged holiday greetings with his neighbors in his own community in Guangzhou. This year is the fourth Spring Festival that the Bila family spent in China. "This year’s Spring Festival is very lively, and our family has a good time!" Facing the reporter’s interview, Bila expressed her happy feeling of spending the Spring Festival in China with fluent Chinese.

　　Bila, 43, came to China to study in 2009, and chose to stay in China after her PhD. She is currently engaged in medical device research and development in Guangzhou. Living in China for many years, Bila made many local friends. He likes to spend the Spring Festival in China. "China friends are very hospitable. During the Chinese New Year, we get together, give red envelopes and celebrate the New Year. It is very lively and everyone is very happy." Bila is also interested in the traditional culture of China behind the Spring Festival. In his view, China has a profound historical and cultural heritage, and the cohesion of Chinese culture is particularly prominent during the Spring Festival. "In China, you can often see a family traveling together. The Spring Festival is an important moment for family reunion in a year. This kind of reunion and affection makes people feel warm. "

　　On New Year’s Day, Bila and his wife took their three children to Yuexiu West Lake Flower Market, which is located on Beijing Road Pedestrian Street in Yuexiu District. The flower market, which was once closed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, reopened this year to welcome guests, making the family excited. The flower market is crowded with people, all kinds of flowers are dazzling, and all kinds of old-fashioned products are dazzling. The family strolled around the flower market again and again. Bila bought a New Year picture with flowers and birds. "It’s very festive to go home and hang it in the living room."

　　Tasting delicious food is also an important activity for the Bila family during the Spring Festival. This year, besides traditional Cantonese refreshments such as shrimp dumplings and barbecued pork buns, the Bila family also went to eat the family’s favorite hot pot. Although the restaurant was full of diners and it took a lot of time to wait for them, the family still ate contentedly. "We stayed in Hunan for several years before, and we were used to the spicy taste. Hot pot is also our favorite dish. It’s delicious." Bila said.

　　In addition to the traditional annual custom activities, Bila also took her family to "catch up with fashion" — — Go camping in Foshan Nanhai. In the warm sunshine, family and friends sit in tents, cook tea around the stove, talk about life in the past year and feel relaxed and comfortable in nature. "The children also took a hot air balloon and the balloon took off. They waved their arms in the air and were very happy. These days, our family really felt the strong flavor of the year. "

　　Bila is full of expectations for the coming year. "This year has made a good start. The economic vitality of various places is gradually recovering. Everyone is full of confidence and China will develop better and better." After not returning to Yemen for several years, Bila plans to visit his hometown this year. "I learned that in recent years, the China medical team has worked closely with local medical staff in Yemen to help carry out medical work and forged a profound friendship with the Yemeni people. In the future, I hope to develop more practical medical devices through my own work and contribute to deepening the friendly cooperation between the two countries in health. "

　　British ceramic artists who started their business in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi — —

　　"All fields are full of vitality."

　　Reporter Wang Dan

　　During the Spring Festival, the Sanbao International Porcelain Valley, located in Zhushan District, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, was particularly lively. The festive Year of the Rabbit stickers and red Chinese knots create a strong festive atmosphere. Several "Jing Piao" artists from different countries gathered here to watch local calligraphy artists write big blessings with one stroke, and to celebrate the Spring Festival with friends in China.

　　"I have participated in the Spring Festival activities held in Jingdezhen in recent years!" Guy Thompson, a British ceramic artist (Chinese name is Gaibotian), was very excited at the scene. After posting the blessing, he rolled up his sleeves and took part in the jiaozi. I saw that he picked up a dumpling skin and held it in his hand, then dug up a spoonful of stuffing and put it in the middle of the dumpling skin. "The material should be filled and filled, but not too much, and then gently squeeze it in the middle with both hands and four fingers. A jiaozi is formed!" Gabriel happily shared with reporters the "Secret of Bao jiaozi" taught by friends in China.

　　Gabriel, 52, from London, England, used to be an Asian executive of a multinational bank. Today, he still remembers, "When I first came to Jingdezhen 10 years ago, I was deeply attracted by the cultural heritage of the Millennium Porcelain Capital". After that, Gabriel stayed, studied painting first, then studied pottery, and started his entrepreneurial road in Jingdezhen. He hopes to combine China’s traditional porcelain-making technology with modern commerce to create a ceramic brand that blends Chinese and Western. Five years ago, his ceramic studio was officially opened. Since then, the doctor of condensed matter physics has devoted a lot of energy to the study of ceramic technology and spent a lot of time using the hair color, monochrome, multicolor, color matching and so on of the colored tableware in the glaze.

　　Culture is wonderful because of communication and prosperous because of openness. In Gabriel’s view, ceramic culture is a valuable asset of Jingdezhen, and it should be promoted to innovate and develop ceramic culture on the basis of inheritance and protection, and promote the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures. "I hope my products can play a bridge role in the cultural exchange between Chinese and foreign ceramics." Gabriel said.

　　In the new year, Jingdezhen took the opportunity of the Spring Festival to release the vitality of cultural tourism. In the Taoxichuan Cultural and Creative District and Yuyao Jingxiang, the punching place in online celebrity, visit the Lantern Festival, solve riddles on the lanterns, and make tanghua … … All kinds of Spring Festival garden activities are dizzying. Gaibotian told reporters that if you are interested, you can also take part in non-legacy courses in Taogong School in Taoxichuan, among which batik, bamboo weaving, kite making, cloisonne enamel, oil-paper umbrella and paper-cut lantern making have been widely welcomed by Chinese and foreign friends.

　　"With the continuous optimization of epidemic prevention and control measures in China, the street corner roadway in Jingdezhen has gradually recovered its former liveliness, and people are everywhere. Whether it is cultural exchange or economic development, all fields of this city are full of vitality. I believe that this vitality will continue in the future. " Talking about the future of this Millennium porcelain capital, Gabriel is full of expectations.

　　French experts from Chinese enterprises in Puyang, Henan Province for the New Year — —

　　"The development and progress of China is all-round."

　　Reporter Bi Jingjin

　　"Come back for the New Year this year?" On the phone, my mother’s earnest expectation evoked Xu Jieyuan’s deep homesickness. She and her husband, Gilm Gibe, bought high-speed train tickets early and prepared to go back to their hometown in Puyang, Henan for the Spring Festival.

　　Both Xu Jieyuan and Gilm work in the Beijing headquarters of China Petrochemical National Exploration Company. In the early morning of January 17, the two set off from home and took a taxi to Beijing West Railway Station. Although there is a bit of traffic jam on the road, Gilm is very happy to see the lively Beijing. "During this time, there are people everywhere in Beijing, whether it is shopping centers, tourist attractions or restaurants. The consumer market has suddenly warmed up, making people feel the vitality of China’s economic development. " As a financial expert, Gilm is good at sensing economic development and changes from subtle points.

　　At the station, the waiting hall was crowded; On the high-speed train, the carriage was full. "The car is full of passengers who go home for the New Year. Many people have a lot of new year’s goods in big bags." Gilm and his wife also bought a lot of sausages, bacon, autumn moon pears and other new year’s goods online, which are all things that family members love to eat. "China’s e-commerce is very developed, and the logistics is very smooth. After placing the order, in less than two days, the new year’s goods were sent to the mother-in-law’s house, which is very convenient! "

　　"During the journey, I looked up from time to time to enjoy the scenery of the vast plains outside the window while reading a book, which was very pleasant." Gilm described this high-speed train trip home as "fast and comfortable". Nearly three hours later, he and his wife arrived at the finish line. Walking out of the station, seeing the returning people and their relatives embrace and reunite, Gilm felt a warm current in his heart. "The wanderers who came home became small families, and there were bursts of happy laughter in their ears, which made people feel the meaning of home more truly."

　　Xu Jieyuan’s sister specially drove the newly bought car to pick them up. Along the way, red lanterns and Chinese knots were hung in the streets and alleys, which decorated the city with joy. "China is developing too fast! After three years of absence, this Central Plains city has changed its appearance. " On New Year’s Eve, the New Year’s Eve dinner was held. Sauced beef, roast chicken at Daokou, and hot jiaozi … … In front of a table of eastern Henan-style delicacies, the family enjoyed themselves and talked about the changes in their lives and work over the years.

　　Gilm plans to visit his family in Paris with his wife in April this year. "I prepared Chinese-made red wine and iced wine for my father, and China exquisite ornaments and stationery for my mother and sister." He said that nowadays, at home in the French, you can see more and more "Made in China" products, which not only have price advantages, but also have better and better quality. "From the rapidly developing infrastructure to the better and better quality ‘ China Zhizao ’ China’s development and progress are all-round. " Gilm also paid attention to the data of economic and social development in 2022 released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. "Last year, China’s GDP increased by 3%, which was impressive. It was not easy to achieve such remarkable results, which made people look forward to the future development of China. I believe that China’s economy will usher in new and faster development in 2023. "