Engrave your name in my heart — China

[Vietnam] Ðào Thị Ngẩn, Harbin Engineering University

Different people have different impression on China. For me, China is a country with long history. It has magnificent Great Wall, splendid Palace Museum and Tiananmen Square. It also has beautiful Dali city and poetic ancient town of Fenghuang. In my dreams, China is the spicy hot-pot, crispy and delicious roasted duck, and al dente Chongqing noodles. Thousands of scenes make up a country with enjoyable smell, taste and sights. Today I will bring you to China alive in my memories.

I am sure you have heard the two old Chinese sayings: “Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on Earth;” “East or West, Guilin scenery is the best.” The two sayings are praising Suzhou, Hangzhou and Guilin for their beautiful scenery like paradise. Every season in China brings us different scenery and enjoyment. In spring there is soft breeze, in summer fresh rain, in autumn blue sky and in winter cold and white snow.

China also has diversified culture customs with inclusive, long and extensive historical heritages, covering diversified traditional ideologies and thoughts. China has many traditional festivals, such as the Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. Among all these festivals the most important and magnificent one is the Spring Festival when people get together with their families, have delicious meals together and chat after a year of busy work and study. In the Spring Festival people can always enjoy their family life.

I started to know more about Chinese flowers after browsing on the internet. I know that peonies have a special position in the history of Chinese culture. Peonies are large flowers, symbolizing richness and magnificence. Their strong adaptability is like the characters of Chinese people.

No matter what kind of environment they are in, they can develop themselves well. A famous Chinese poem praises Peonies: “Who is the master of the youth in spring? Peonies always take the lead among all blossoms!” Peonies are grand, glamorous but not vulgar. They have a manner and attitude like a great nation.

Slowly I get to know more about China and I find more fun. China has unforgettable scenery and hospitable people. Last year I was so lucky that I won a scholarship for International Teachers of Chinese which granted me a chance to study for one year at Ha’erbin Engineering University. Due to the pandemic, I could not walk with my own feet into this country which I had admired for so long.

However, teachers of the university still managed to bring us into China through internet. We saw the apricot flowers of the university in spring, the charming Central Avenue of Ha’erbin, red leaves in the autumn and colorful ice lamps in winter, as if we were seeing this magical land in real person. Though we did not step our feet onto this land and did not meet each other face to face, our teachers, with their passion, hard-working and preciseness, were using the internet to lead us feel its vitality and beauty.

On the other end of the internet, I seemed to have tried the delicious food in my dreams and have seen the magnificent buildings which I had imagined many times. My image of China became more and more specific and clear. China has become a familiar name to me, engraved in my heart, attracting me to pursue more of its charm.

Looking back upon the past year, I’ve gained a lot. However, there were also unfulfilled wishes. I wish I could come to China in person one day after the end of the pandemic to pursue my study and to experience the beauty and charm of China. Pursue my dream, leave my love and start another brand-new life in China.

The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).