British man finds life and family in Baoding

Wilson Sims Gibson, an English teacher from the United Kingdom, has lived and worked in Baoding, North China's Hebei province for over a decade. Over the years, he fell in love with the city and settled down with a family.

The 53-year-old man came to Baoding in 2012 and has taught spoken English at a local kindergarten for years.

For him, coming to China and becoming a member of a Chinese family has been a fascinating experience. It has strengthened his attachment to the city he lives in.

His wife, Zhu Yixiao, is a native of Baoding, a city that's about 150 kilometers southwest of downtown Beijing. He met Zhu in Beijing back in 2012 through work. Over time, he found himself falling in love with her.

During the next three years, Zhu often took Gibson to Baoding to take tours and taste the local cuisine, such as the well-known donkey burger.

Eventually, they got married and started a family in the city, making Gibson a popular local "foreign son-in-law". They now have two children — a daughter and a son.

"I love everything here — my family, my jobs as well as my colleagues and students," Gibson said.

As a teacher and with his children attending school, he pays special attention to the city's education. He's happy to see a city that is dedicated to education investment.

"The high-standard infrastructure and high-quality education and teaching methods have shown me the government's determination and efforts in education," he said, adding that the city is accelerating its pace toward becoming a modern education powerhouse.

Additionally, Gibson appreciates multiple aspects of the city, including its culture, history, picturesque scenery, friendly citizens and convenient transportation.

"Just as Chinese poet Su Shi said, where the heart is at peace, there is my home," Gibson said.