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The China Storyteller Partnerships is a content co-creation mechanism for foreign content creators like foreign influencers, journalists, and expats from different countries, languages, cultural backgrounds, who have a connection with China. Through participating in themed interviews and exchanges on topics such as technology, culture, "sports, scenery, food, fashion, and travel, as well as cultural exchanges and creative training, high-definition photos, commentary articles, vlogs, themed music, and illustrated posters from their perspective will be created and published by them.
By leveraging the advantages of China Daily's integrated media and three-dimensional communication matrix, this mechanism aims to build a platform for the members to collaboratively create Chinese stories, share resources and grow together.
My first encounter with Xinjiang was at a family-owned ethnic restaurant in Dongguan, where my student's family took me for lunch over two decades ago. As you can see in this 2019 video, "My Favorite Restaurant," BaoBingYangRou was my initial introduction to the region. All this was before I had ever visited Xinjiang.
Challenging Western Narratives
Over the years, I've encountered numerous Western headlines about Xinjiang. Having lived in China for more than a decade, I found such coverage difficult to believe. In April 2021, I decided to embark on a journey with my wife and a friend to Xinjiang. Our goal was to counter the prevailing narrative by demonstrating that anyone can freely visit and document their experiences. These are the videos I made then.
Since then, I've created over 30 videos about Xinjiang, exploring various aspects of western narratives about the region. During my 2023 five-month RV road trip, I covered over 15,000 kilometers and visited more than 40 locations while posting videos. While I can't say if I've changed anything, it's clear that my content faces censorship on Western social media platforms. Western mainstream media have little interest in my story and the recent allocation of $1.6 billion by the US Senate to vilify China has reignited the same old debunked allegations.
The Limitations of Popular Xinjiang Content
With China's recent relaxation of visa policies, more and more bloggers are visiting Xinjiang. Unfortunately, many of them are constrained by time or budget, leading them to focus on the same three popular destinations: the Grand Bazaar, the ancient city of Kashgar and the food market in Hotan. This is precisely the itinerary I followed on my first trip in 2021.
The "Xinjiang Disney" Myth
Western NGOs have coined the term "Xinjiang Disney," falsely suggesting that tourists are restricted in their exploration of Xinjiang. Unintentionally, popular video creators reinforce this false narrative by repeatedly showcasing the same limited set of locations.
A Call for Responsible Content Creation
While I don't have a solution to this dilemma, I condemn the exploitation of Xinjiang's struggles for clickbait by some bloggers. While they may attract interest in the region, I believe all visitors to Xinjiang share a responsibility of how we portray it, as this can significantly impact the livelihoods of the people we care about.
As for me, I will continue to work to fight disinformation. I have recently created my own website and new social media accounts - mediawithoutmeans.org - to collaborate with journalists from around the world to tell their untold stories. I’m glad to announce that next month, I will participate in an international forum organized by the Centro Social Gomes Gaioso, in Galicia, Spain, where I have been invited to do a presentation and a Q&A session on Xinjiang.
Together we can continue to create the Xinjiang of tomorrow.
The author is a commentator from Colombia.
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.
It's been said many times that the Chinese have curious appetites, but perhaps fun is more telling for what was in store for the China Storyteller Partnerships' trip to the Yutangfu seafood restaurant.
Hold off on eating that rice paper menu until the head chef explains the layers of puns and double entendres. The number of flavors in an entree soup is the lucky eight. "Fish" sounds like "surplus".
A dish of angus beef with leeks takes on the name of philosopher Lao Zi's green cow. These were just a few playful examples from a course list of 19 where the "nine" sounds like "longevity".
The real fun began as dishes were set out on a massive rotating platter. The first time around was for pictures, and the second time, people couldn't resist any longer.
The creative and sometimes quirky presentations broke down reservations inlanders had toward seafood. Fried sand worms brought a smile instead of a scowl because they looked like crispy sticks next to a coral reef. And while coconut-flavored pineapple balls are a crowd favorite, why not drop them in a nest overlooked by a bird of carved fruit?
The restaurant's approach is about having a fresh approach in a business where freshness is everything — and what better place than Zhanjiang! Even people from the coastal city of Shenzhen come down for that extra fresh flavor.
Restaurants here have fish boats and fisheries right on their doorstep, so the flavor is always something seafood lovers (and newbies) can smile about.
They're just mud and grass, right? Walked upon as the most basic parts of the earth, free from smelting, refining, and/or synthesizing. They can be found everywhere. Metals, glass, and plastics have replaced most of what we use today, including the few remaining items that are still made from clay however are now produced by machines instead of basic human hands.
The Leizhou Kiln, however, has kept its hand in the medium passed down from generation to generation. Their tea pots showcasing aesthetically pure craftsmanship. Everything that transforms mud into masterpieces remains intrinsic to each artisan who are happy to pass on the skill to others knowing it was passed on to them.
Guests of the China Storyteller Partnerships were invited to try their hand at the potter's wheel, and despite the dense clay which proved harder to mold they were assisted by the potters sitting opposite from them who swooped in to get the wobbling stacks back to its symmetrical spin.
Rhythmic pounding echoes off a large stone wall of the Maodegong Drum City giving its lively streets a proper heartbeat. Among the performance is a shop where flat strips of grass lay on woven mats: green strips taped along one edge to be held vertically and dyed strips to be wefted horizontally.
A piece of paper explains that the purple grass is to be weaved in following a two-above-two-below pattern, but even with the help of a teacher, one finds themselves doubting their own abilities. It's something so simple, but our typing, swiping, and clicking fingers can't make sense of it. The experts rush over to quickly find the problem, and show us how to do it. Congratulations, you've made a bookmark!
On our way out, we pass a woman working on a purse, and were it not for the dyed strips behind her, we would not have known that she was doing the same process that we did… only way better. The stacks of hats, bags, and boxes around her suddenly seemed like treasures once we realized how hard weaving really is.
It's all too tempting to see clay pots and grass sundries as primitive simply because the materials used were readily available to the earliest of civilizations. After encountering it ourselves, its real value becomes apparent — the mastery needed to turn a lump of clay or a pile of grass into something beautiful is what we're really looking at.
We refer to the skills behind this masterpieces as “intangible cultural heritage” and the few who continue the legacy as “inheritors”. But it is those of us who are enriched by these continuations of human history that are the real inheritors of something truly valuable.
The China Storyteller Partnership interview group delved deep into the Leizhou Peninsula, having a perfect "encounter" with the Chinese rare white dolphins.
"I thought we would be lucky if we saw a dolphin in the distance, but the dolphins have come all the way up to us," Danish self-media blogger Julie Odsgaard Laursen expressed great surprise at being able to interact with dolphins up close.
Turkish self-media blogger Neslihan Kilavuz, when talking about China's environmental protection efforts, said that China attaches great importance to nature and has taken practical actions, which deeply moved her.
Douglas Dueno, an American expert from China Daily, invites people from around the world to come to Zhanjiang to see Chinese white dolphins. He said that witnessing and capturing the moment when the white dolphins lept out of the water was a truly unforgettable experience.
The China Storyteller Partnership interview group closely observed the Chinese white dolphins in Leizhou Bay, South China’s Guangdong province, on September 25.
The nearshore waters of the Leizhou Peninsula are scattered with numerous islands and reefs, where the rare Chinese white dolphins thrive and reproduce healthily.
The population of Chinese white dolphins here has become the second largest in the country. There are only over 6,000 Chinese white dolphins in the world, and a thousand of them gather off Leizhou.
The municipal-level nature reserve for the Chinese white dolphins in Leizhou Bay, Zhanjiang, was established on April 26, 2007, with an area of 2,058 hectares.
"It's really great to be here at this plantation, I'm trying to drink more green tea
because it's more healthy," Torbjorn Sassersson, the editor-in-chief of NewsVoice said during his visit to a tea plantation in Zhanjiang, located in South China's Guangdong province. "I'm still addicted somewhat to coffee though, so it's still a fight between coffee and tea in my life, but I think tea is gonna win," he added.
The Chinese tea culture impressed Danish vlogger Julie Odsgaard Laursen a lot. "Tea is something you can share with people very easily," she said during her visit to Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province. "The tea here that we had today was very, very good," she added.
The China Storyteller Partnership interview group visited the ancient commercial port in Zhanjiang, South China’s Guangdong province on September 24.
Walking through the Lingnan-style arcade architecture, Douglas Dueno, a US reporter from China Daily, noted that navigating the alleys allowed him to feel the unique and distinctive characteristics of Chinese culture.
He remarked that wearing the traditional Chinese attire made him feel truly like a part of history, which was a brand new experience for him.
Chikan Ancient Commercial Port, a gem at the heart of Chikan district in Zhanjiang city, carries rich historical and cultural significance. Its history can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).
After centuries of development and prosperity, during the Kangxi to Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Chikan Ancient Commercial Port exhibited a splendid scene of a bustling port town, becoming an important hub for economic and cultural exchanges at that time.
Many old buildings in Chikan Ancient Street have been renovated and transformed into cultural halls, museums, and unique leisure venues. The revitalization of ancient buildings is another way for the people of Zhanjiang to protect and inherit historical and cultural heritage, preserving the memories of the city.
Chikan Ancient Commercial Port, a gem at the heart of Chikan district in Zhanjiang city, carries rich historical and cultural significance. Its history can be traced back to the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279).
After centuries of development and prosperity, during the Kangxi to Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Chikan Ancient Commercial Port exhibited a splendid scene of a bustling port town, becoming an important hub for economic and cultural exchanges at that time.
These buildings not only hold immense historical value but also showcase the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, serving as important carriers of the historical and cultural heritage of Chikan Ancient Commercial Port.
The China Storyteller Partnership interview group arrived at the Minghuang Tea Ecological Culture Park in Zhanjiang on September 24, where they experienced eco-friendly tea picking, handcrafting tea and reading tea poetry, gaining insights into the integration of tea culture and tourism development.
The Minghuang Tea Ecological Culture Park spans 1,333 hectare of tea gardens, maintaining the original ecology of the area. The park is themed around tea garden ecology and is equipped with facilities for production, living, culture, leisure and scenic enjoyment, aiming to showcase tea culture and provide a relaxing experience.
The interview group delved into the tea gardens, closely observing the planting of tea trees, learning about the tea production process, savoring the aroma of tea and experiencing Chinese tea culture.
The China Storyteller Partnership interview group arrived at the Suixi County Lion Dance Protection and Inheritance Base, embarking on a profound journey into the vibrant heritage of traditional Chinese culture--- the captivating world of lion dance culture on Sept 23, 2024.
"Embracing Zhanjiang: China Storyteller Partnerships Tour" event kicked off on Sept 22 in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong province.
The event warmly welcomed 10 foreign media correspondents and internet influencers from the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Turkey. As members of the China Storyteller Partnership, these honored guests embarked on an immersive journey to explore the coastal beauty and cultural richness of Zhanjiang.
The group members visited the Leizhou Museum in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province at this afternoon. The museum's rich collection of artifacts and diverse exhibition formats vividly showcase the cultural charm of Leizhou, highlighting its historical evolution, folk customs, ceramic art, and stone dogs.
While the Western press highlights issues like authoritarianism and abuse of human rights in China, there seems to be no such shadow inside the country. People are content in their way.
A well-known global survey institution, Statista, found that on the trust level on various aspects, about 85 percent of the Chinese respondents trusted the government to do what is right in 2023, listed first place among 28 surveyed countries. Similarly, according to the UN's World Happiness Report, China's happiness index ranged at 5.97 points in 2023 increasing from 4.98 in 2013.
During the last week of August, I strolled through the Jiangbei and Jiefangbei areas in Chongqing in the evening. I observed the lively atmosphere of Chinese life—children, parents, siblings and friends all having a good time in the brightly lit squares. The nearby alleys were filled with restaurants, and there was no chaotic rush of rickshaws or the loud honking of taxis and cars. People were simply enjoying their time—some were playing, others were eating. It was a scene of calm, quite different from the hustle and bustle typical of evenings in many developed countries. This is the life of the Chinese people. After working all day, they come out in the evening. The parks are full. Crowds are making TikTok videos, and others walking along the riverbanks, enjoying the lights reflecting on the Yangtze River.
From birth, Chinese people carry a strong sense of moral and cultural awareness. Unlike citizens of Western or other countries who often pursue ambitious dreams, they find contentment in their surroundings.
Western media has made significant efforts to link human rights and freedom of expression with China. But what do these concepts truly mean? What is happiness and contentment? Perhaps Westerners could learn from the Chinese perspective. If, in a single lifetime, a person accomplishes their goals, obtains what they desire, and lives the life they’ve always wanted, where else could they find greater happiness and contentment?
Proponents of loud democracy often don’t understand this perspective. They believe that when a state oppresses its citizens, the citizens have the right to protest, and if the state exploits or mistreats them, they have the right to strike as a form of resistance, which they view as an expression of freedom. But consider this: if the state doesn’t oppress its people, addresses their concerns systematically and citizens don’t need to protest to meet their needs, would there even be a question of freedom of expression? If people have access to food, clothing, jobs, the ability to travel and are generally content with their lives, would the issue of freedom of expression even come up?
Dissatisfaction with the state typically arises when people are denied education, forced to migrate for work or face discrimination based on caste, religion, gender, race, or geography. However, if a state has resolved all these issues and eliminated discrimination, there would be little reason for dissatisfaction. And if there is no dissatisfaction, the question of freedom of expression might not even arise. This is an aspect that the West often overlooks about China.
According to the UNDP, China has experienced substantial social development alongside its rapid economic growth over recent decades. From 1990 to 2019, China’s Human Development Index (HDI) rose by 52.5 percent, moving from a 'low' value of 0.499 to a 'high' value of 0.761, making it one of the few countries to achieve this shift. Significant progress has also been made in gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). Between 1995 and 2020, the HDI value for Chinese women increased from 0.522 to 0.744. Moreover, in 2020, China’s Gender Development Index (GDI) improved to 0.957, up from 0.912 in 1995, showing that the disparities between women and men in education, health and economic resources are decreasing.
Chongqing, a municipality in China, is centered around the Yangtze River. Nearby, there is an alley called Ninth Street, where the freedom of expression and lifestyle questioned by the West is visibly thriving. Visiting Ninth Street feels akin to being in Las Vegas or a European city, where extreme personal freedom is evident.
The alley is vibrant, with dazzling lights and decorated signs. Young couples in semi-nude outfits are common, and there are long lines outside discos and clubs. Couples stroll along the streets, enjoying a sense of bliss. For someone visiting China for the first time, this scene is as surprising as it is fascinating. This is just one example; in many cities, people are free to enjoy their lives.
Given the portrayal of China by Western media, one might wonder: Is this kind of freedom possible in China? Can people dance in discos and clubs at midnight? Can lively interactions and spirited bargaining of goods occur on the streets of China?
The China that outsiders often misrepresent has become a model for a happy and content life. In this country, the government has effectively addressed people's concerns, and social life is guided by strong moral and cultural values. Economic systems support social morality, leading to minimal dissatisfaction with the state. People enjoy full freedom of expression and movement.
The UNDP report shows that over the past decade, the annual per capita disposable income in China has risen, reaching 51,821 RMB ($7927) in urban areas and 21,691 RMB in rural areas by 2023. Although the income gap between urban and rural areas remains significant, it has been narrowing since 2013, with the urban-rural income ratio decreasing to 2.38 in 2023. According to the UNDP's Human Development Report 2023/2024, titled Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining Cooperation in a Polarized World, China's Human Development Index (HDI) increased to 0.788 in 2022, up from 0.499 in 1990. The Chinese foreign ministry highlighted that China is the only country that has moved from the low development group to the high development group since 1990, thanks to its people-centered development approach.
China has emerged as a strong player, being the world's second-largest economy with a rapidly expanding commercial influence across Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
China faces a challenging period as it seeks to evolve from a foundational aspect of its new democratic republic into socialism while managing changes in production relations. Successfully navigating this transition could render Western criticisms irrelevant and set a new precedent in Marxist development.
Gokarn Bhatt has recently participated Belt and Road Journalist Forum held in Chongqing and is an editor of www.everestdainik.com in Nepal.
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.
Expressing his gratitude for the huge benefits the Belt and Road Initiative has brought to his country and the people, Kenyan student Jamlick Mwangi Kariuki said he expects more people's engagement in China-Africa cooperation in the future.
Last year, Kariuki and over 40 other Kenyan students and alumni of Beijing Jiaotong University wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping and also presented a special gift: A ticket to ride the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway. Xi replied back earlier this year.
"The tallest tower in Africa, the largest green energy plant, and the fastest high-speed railway have all been built with China's assistance."
Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has deepened China's cooperation with a growing number of African countries, creating more opportunities for the continent's youth. What exactly has the BRI brought to African countries and their young people? Click the video to find out.
Check out the talents of this generation of African youth! From mastering tongue twisters and performing cross-talk to reciting poetry and singing Chinese songs, their proficiency in the Chinese language is truly impressive. What motivated them to learn Chinese, and what doors has it opened for them? Watch this video to dive into their inspiring stories!
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. A French TV host Olivier Grandjean shared his perspective on China with China Daily. Olivier first came to China in 2005 and has traveled to many places in China over the past 19 years.
For remembering his beautiful experiences, he wrote a book titled Living in China. "Sixty years after, the friendship is very strong and must be stronger," he said in his wishes for the friendship between China and France. "China changed my life, I love to be a bridge," he said. Why does he say this? Watch the video to find out the answer!
US high school student Luke Rankin met Chinese peer Yang Siyuan during a cycling event as part of a student exchange program between China and the US. They exchanged ideas and talked about the future.
Follow Luke and his new friend Yang as they pedal through history and forge friendship along Beijing's Central Axis.
China successfully launched a Pakistani communication satellite, PakSat MM1, on Thursday using a Long March 3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China’s Sichuan province. The mission is a turning point in the two nation’s technological cooperation. Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and China Great Wall Industry Corporation collaborated on the design and development of the satellite.
Strengthening Pakistan's communication infrastructure is the main goal of the PakSat MM1satellite. This will open up new opportunities for connectivity, help the underprivileged, and advance tele-education, tele-health, tele-medicine, tele-governance, and e-commerce while establishing Pakistan among the global leaders in digital technology. This will be the crucial link that bridges the digital divide. Higher reach and more economical bandwidth will be provided across the nation by PakSat MM1.
According to reports, Pakistan will become the 11th nation in the world to launch its own SBAS when PakSat MM1 is equipped with the Pak-SBAS (Pakistan Space Based Augmentation System) payload, which will offer integrity-based positioning, navigation, and timing services.
Pakistan received satellite systems, launch services, ground monitoring and control stations, ground application systems, collaborative satellite development, training for technical staff, insurance arrangements, and concessional loans from the corporation. This turnkey project serves as a demonstration of corporation's role as China's primary worldwide platform for aerospace cooperation.
The Chinese company would equip a big number of management and technical staff members with experience in satellite research and production through collaborative development, creating a talent pool for Pakistan's autonomous space development capabilities.
As for the corporation, the satellite project achieved the installation of high-precision BeiDou Navigation Satellite Services and was the first international satellite project to adopt BeiDou standards. BeiDou was also the major augmentation aim.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the whole country on the historic launch of Paksat MM1, the country's second communication satellite. He said, "I am incredibly proud of our national accomplishment," adding that "this remarkable achievement marks a significant advancement in our space and communication capabilities."
The prospective impact of Paksat MM1 on internet connectivity throughout Pakistan excites me, he said. This satellite promises to transform our digital environment and offer the quickest internet service in the entire nation with its cutting-edge communication technologies.
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister, also commended the country on the Pakistan Multi Mission Communication Satellite launch's success. He said, “This historic accomplishment, which was made possible by our great friend and ally China, represents a turning point in our National Space Programme. This endeavour is a prime example of our close friendship and robust technological cooperation with China.”
According to him, Pakistan is dedicated to advancing science and technology as major forces behind both economic expansion and societal advancement. With this launch, Pakistan is reaffirming its commitment to building up domestic capabilities and investing in high-tech industries.
Pakistan's Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi on Thursday said the launch of a multi-mission communications satellite marked yet another important turning point in the country's space program and a new phase in China-Pakistan space cooperation.
Moreover, Muhammad Yousaf Khan, Chairman of the research commission, thanked the governments of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China for their unwavering support in a message delivered on this momentous day. He expressed his gratitude to the engineering teams in both nations for their tireless work in seeing the project through to completion. In addition, the research commission’s chairman reaffirmed his commitment to advancing space sciences in order to help Pakistan's socioeconomic sector.
Not long ago, Pakistan also saw the launch of its first lunar satellite on May 3 of this year as well, as part of China's historic quest to gather samples from the far side of the moon that has not been extensively studied using cooperative technology.
Beijing is among the closest allies of Islamabad. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, which aims to strengthen economic and technological links between the two countries, includes this cooperation as part of a larger strategic alliance. In addition to strengthening Pakistan's space technology capabilities, the successful launch and operation of these satellites has strengthened the country's strong bilateral connections and promoted stability in the area.
The Author is Muhammad Humayun Asghar, a Pakistani affiliated with Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), a leading IT university in China.
he views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.
A group of 15 college students from Indiana University of Pennsylvania embarked on a two-week educational and cultural tour of China in late May. This immersive experience allowed them to gain a comprehensive understanding of the country.
For many of the students, this was their first visit to China. They were particularly struck by the nation's rich historical heritage and its rapid technological advancements. Throughout the tour, they shared their evolving perspectives, noting how their views on China had been significantly transformed.
To hear more about their experiences and insights, click the video.
