HANGZHOU, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At the height of summer, with the arrival of Major Heat, the final solar term of the season, American Emma Chen follows an ancient Chinese way of staying cool: drinking unfermented Pu'er tea.
For the volunteer guide at Hangzhou's Liangzhu Museum in east China, this is more than a seasonal habit. Through her years of experience in China, she has learned to follow the rhythm of the 24 solar terms, choosing seasonal foods and teas in the process, and has gained a better understanding of the Chinese belief in living in harmony with nature.
The solar terms people have followed for thousands of years constitute an organizing principle and rule for agrarian societies, Chen said. In the Liangzhu period 5,000 years ago, people lived in an agrarian civilization and they required a solar system to better manage their rice cultivation.
Fluent in Chinese, Chen studied Asian Studies as an undergraduate in the United States before settling in China. Now in her fifth year as a guide at Liangzhu Museum, Chen has immersed herself in the archaeology of China's Neolithic cultures, helping visitors discover the wisdom of the Liangzhu civilization through stories of its sophisticated social structure, farming practices and exquisite jade artifacts.
The Liangzhu ruins have been recognized as a testimony to the existence of Chinese civilization at least 5,000 years ago. They have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Intrigued by the exquisite lacquerware inlaid with jade and a wooden well that has withstood the passage of time, she finds herself drawn ever deeper into China's ancient past. "When I look at the lacquerware, I see the evolution of craftsmanship over thousands of years," she said.
"Although no written records of the Liangzhu people have been found, archaeology, together with later historical texts, allows us to gradually piece together their way of life and better understand the cultural legacy they left behind," she added.
Since 2024, she has pursued a master's degree in museum studies at Zhejiang University, joining a community of more than 6,700 international students from over 160 countries and regions. She also helped translate "Liangliang's World," a five-volume series of English-language picture books on Liangzhu culture, published by Dixie W Publishing Corporation in the United States.
"What attracts me most is the opportunity to share the fascinating stories behind the long Chinese history with more people, while presenting them in a professional and detailed way," she said.
RICHER EXPERIENCES
Braving the summer heat, German art teacher Anke Deber wandered along the Grand Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world, and cooled off with a refreshing drink made from pear, lotus root and herbal tea.
Thanks to China's visa-free policies, her journey was made easier from the moment she boarded a flight with a Chinese friend. During her trip, she visited landmarks including the Great Wall in north China and West Lake in the east, sketching ancient pavilions and ceramics, and intriguing scenes featuring the charm of Oriental life.
For years, many people's understanding of China was shaped largely by secondhand information and curated impressions. Today, the rise of social media and expanded exchanges facilitated by visa-free policies are reshaping how the world experiences China, with many now doing so through direct encounters, personal stories and everyday interactions.
Since the end of 2025, the trend of "becoming Chinese" has gained momentum on social media. Content creators around the world are drinking hot water, wearing slippers around the house, eating Chinese food and wearing red.
From the short-term experiences of "China Travel" to the cultural resonance sparked by the trend of "becoming Chinese," more foreigners are shifting from simply observing China to embracing Chinese culture in their daily lives.
Meng Man, a renowned cultural scholar at Minzu University of China, said the growing interest in Chinese lifestyles is a natural reflection of China's rising cultural appeal and the increasing resonance between different civilizations.
A Pew Research Center study in July showed that a median of 46 percent of respondents across the 20 countries surveyed annually since 2023 hold a favorable view of China, up from 32 percent in 2023.
Impressions of China are often captured in simple words: safety, convenience and efficiency. These qualities are also among the reasons Colombian teacher Liliana Restrepo chose to settle in Quzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, where she is raising her 10-year-old son.
"I hope living in China will help him see a broader world, understand different cultures and learn to respect them," said Restrepo, 46. For the family from Medellin in Colombia, seven years living in China have brought them closer to the country's traditions and everyday life.
This summer, curious about the Chinese idea of "treating winter diseases in summer," Restrepo took her son to experience Sanfutie, or Sanfu plaster, a centuries-old traditional Chinese medicine therapy.
"Chinese culture has now become a big part of our daily lives," she said.
LIFE, ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Official data showed that more than 800,000 foreign nationals live in China for purposes including business, employment and study.
China has introduced measures to improve public services for foreign residents, making it easier for them to access services and receive support in areas such as employment, social security, education and housing. Digital platforms have also transformed daily routines, turning transportation and payments into seamless, time-saving experiences.
For Ugandan entrepreneur Adikin Rose Mary, life in China has become both a source of inspiration and a foundation for her career.
She has embraced livestreaming and short-video platforms, becoming a popular vlogger whose videos capture the social customs and everyday life of rural China. From visiting neighbors for casual conversations to bargaining at local markets, her authentic portrayals have attracted nearly 15 million followers on Douyin.
Her homecoming tour to Uganda also drew millions of views, allowing audiences in both countries to gain a closer look at cultural exchanges between China and Africa.
Living in a village in Lishui in Zhejiang, Adikin has experienced the rhythms of rural life firsthand. She harvests bamboo shoots, gathers edible wild greens and works on her own plot of land as the seasons change.
"I farm my own land, and I have learned to follow natural laws summarized by Chinese people to arrange daily life and farming work. If you miss the right season, you will not get a good harvest," she said.
Italian vlogger Leonardo Lazzari is exploring a different path, introducing China to audiences back home. Since 2024, he has been sharing his experiences in China on TikTok, where he has attracted more than 26,000 followers. "Many people in Italy are curious about China and posted all kinds of questions under my posts, such as how are Chinese streets cleaned and how frequently," he said.
Lazzari uses his posts to advertise Chinese tours to international visitors, with his friend having founded Nihao Inter, a travel agency based in Hangzhou.
Leaving behind Italian beaches and gelato, Lazzari plans to immerse himself in Chinese cultural experiences, from visiting traditional bathhouses to making sachets filled with aromatic herbs to relieve heat in summer.
"We are planning to launch customized travel packages featuring traditional Chinese medicine experiences, while exploring more culture- and technology-focused travel products in the future," he said. Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号