"Becoming Chinese" is now trending on overseas social media. More and more international friends are experiencing authentic Chinese New Year traditions, local flavors, and the vibrant pulse of everyday life through real-life immersion. The journey from "China Travel" to "China Living" is leading many to form emotional connections with the country – and eventually, to call it home.
Southwest China's Guizhou province is truly becoming a "home away from home" for many international friends.
Jill from Canada speaks Guiyang dialect with native-like fluency. Wandering through old alleyways, she greets neighbors in her perfect local accent – from the owner of a stall of Changwangmian (noodles with pig intestine and blood curd) to her square dancing partners. For her, belonging wasn't something she pursued; it quietly took root in the rhythms of daily life.
Vita from Belarus, principal cellist of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, has settled in Guiyang with her family. Her life is an elegant concerto: rehearsing intricate melodies with colleagues by day, strolling through local markets by evening, and sharing a bowl of sour soup or fish mint with her family.
Filip Jordan, a Czech teacher at Guizhou University, lives a double life. In the classroom, he is a rigorous and knowledgeable educator sparking intellectual debates with students. Outside, he transforms into a focused, quiet carpenter. The scent of wood shavings and the warmth of timber have become his sanctuary.
Diego from France has traded his director's chair for a baker's apron in Guiyang. He runs a bakery tucked away in a deep alley with his wife, working daily with flour, yeast, and high heat. Leaving his "director persona" behind, he has found a new stage – and renewed passion – in Guizhou's lively streets.
Wu Baolian, a young woman from Laos born in 1998, has spent six years in Guizhou. In class, she works hard on her Chinese and academic pursuits; after school, she gathers friends from all over the world to share the bold, spicy flavors of local cuisine. From a wide-eyed international student to a soon-to-be professional starting her career here, Guizhou has witnessed her growth and become her true "second hometown".
From fleeting glances during "China Travel" to deep integration through "China Living", these friends from around the world have gradually found emotional belonging amid Guizhou's mountains, waters, people, and stories. In their own unique ways, they are "Becoming Chinese" – and in doing so, they are helping the world see a more open, inclusive, and authentic China.