The North China province of Shanxi has been in a process of globalization in recent years, featuring frequent people-to-people exchanges. This is a place where more foreigners come, writing new chapters of their lives. It is also where locals start their journeys to the world, spreading their Shanxi and China stories. The following are six stories demonstrating Shanxi's ties with the world, the dialogue among cultures and the connection between hearts and souls.
展开剩余95%近年来，中国北方省份山西持续推进国际化进程，人员往来日益频繁。越来越多外国友人来到这里，书写人生新篇章；本地人也从这里启程走向世界，讲述他们的山西故事、中国故事。以下六个故事，展现了山西与世界的联结、文化的交流以及心灵的共鸣。
Home away from home
Elhomosany Hesham Ramzy, an Egyptian lawyer, arrived in Shanxi six years ago. But his emotional link with China is much longer than that, he said.
Before his arrival in China, Ramzy worked at the Chinese embassy in Cairo and the Chinese consulate general in Alexandria. The focus of his work was to offer legal assistance to Chinese people living, working and doing business in Egypt.
Ramzy said he is a fan of Chinese movie stars like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, whose blockbuster films sparked his imagination and curiosity about China.
"It was that kind of curiosity that helped me make the decision to study in Shanxi," Ramzy said.
He said a colleague at the Alexandria consulate general is a Shanxi native; he recommended him to go to Shanxi which is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization and boasts a wealth of cultural assets.
Before he left for Shanxi, Ramzy gave himself the Chinese name Li Renan at the suggestion of his colleagues. "I love this name, as ren means benevolence and an means safety," he said. "As a lawyer, I always bear in mind a mission to protect the safety of people."
When he arrived in Taiyuan, where he was admitted to Shanxi University, he was amazed by the conveniences in all aspects of life.
"Buses and subway trains reach every corner of the city," Ramzy said. "Shared bicycles are everywhere. You can easily ride one by scanning the QR codes."
He easily integrated into local life, especially the food. "I like noodles," Ramzy said. "Back in Egypt, the only option is pasta. But here in Shanxi, you can find an amazing number of varieties."
He added that a love of local food can lead to identification with the local community.
Now studying in a postgraduate program in international law at Shanxi University, Ramzy said he is trying to explore mutual learning among different cultures from a legal standpoint.
Ramzy said he has found a home away from home in Shanxi. "Once I was away from Shanxi for several days, I told my companions I was missing my home," Ramzy said."When they asked me whether it is Egypt, I told them it is Shanxi."
他乡亦故乡
Elhomosany Hesham Ramzy, an Egyptian student in Shanxi University, flies a kite at a park in Taiyuan.
来自埃及的律师李仁安（Elhomosany Hesham Ramzy）六年前来到山西。但他表示，自己与中国的情感联结远比这更久远。
在来中国之前，李仁安曾在中国驻开罗大使馆和中国驻亚历山大总领事馆工作，主要负责为在埃及生活、工作和经商的中国人提供法律帮助。
李仁安说，自己是成龙、李小龙等中国影星的影迷，这些卖座大片激发了他对中国的想象与好奇。
"正是这份好奇，让我最终决定来山西学习。"李仁安说。
他提到，在亚历山大总领事馆的一位同事是山西人，这位同事建议他来山西——这里是中国文明的发源地之一，文化底蕴深厚。
在启程前往山西之前，他在同事的建议下给自己取了一个中文名字——李仁安。"我很喜欢这个名字，'仁'意味着仁爱，'安'代表平安，"他说，"作为一名律师，我始终铭记保护人民安全的使命。"
当他抵达太原、进入山西大学学习时，生活中方方面面的便利令他惊叹不已。
"公交车和地铁可以到达城市的每一个角落，"李仁安说，"共享单车随处可见，扫一下二维码就能轻松骑行。"
他很快融入了当地生活，尤其是饮食。"我喜欢吃面条，"李仁安说，"在埃及，只有意大利面。但在山西，面条的种类多得惊人。"
他补充说，热爱当地美食能帮助人更好地融入当地社会。
李仁安目前在山西大学攻读国际法专业研究生。他表示，自己正尝试从法律的角度探索不同文化之间的互学互鉴。
李仁安说，他在山西找到了"他乡亦故乡"的感觉。"有一次我离开山西几天，我告诉同伴我想家了，"李仁安说，"他们问我是不是想埃及的家，我说，我想山西。"
Cultural alchemy
In Willow Alley — a commercial street also known as Liuxiang — in Taiyuan, Lee Chang-ook from South Korea has been operating a Korean restaurant for 13 years.
A graduate from Peking University, Lee arrived in Taiyuan in 2012 along with his wife, a Taiyuan native. He opened the restaurant and has sustained the business.
"A restaurant is somewhere interesting 'cultural alchemy' can take place," Lee said.
He recalled that in the early years of the restaurant's operation, some customers had demanded New Year cake hotpot again and again.
New Year cake, made from sticky rice, is a popular snack in both China and South Korea."But you could never find such a dish as New Year cake hotpot, either in South Korea or China," Lee said.
After years of hearing these requests, Lee finally decided to create a version tailored to local customers — and brought the dish to life.
Since its debut, this dish has been the bestseller at his restaurant for eight years.
Lee said he later brought it back to South Korea and it quickly became popular there."When I went back to South Korea in the following years, I found there were an increasing number of dining outlets selling New Year cake hotpot," Lee added.
Lee said a restaurant is always a perfect place for people to make friends or even seek lovers.
"A young man and a young woman have been eating in my restaurant for five years," Lee said.
"They became acquainted, they became friends later and they finally became lovers."
He added that the couple still visit the restaurant frequently, bringing a baby with them.
文化融合
在太原的商业街——柳巷，来自韩国的李昌昱经营着一家韩式餐厅，至今已有13年。
李昌昱毕业于北京大学。2012年，他与太原籍的妻子一同来到太原，开了这家餐厅，并一直经营至今。
"餐厅是2012年9月6日开业的，第一天营业额只有600元，"李昌昱回忆道，"而现在，它已经成为太原最受欢迎的韩式餐厅之一。"
"餐厅是一个有趣的地方，'文化炼金术'就在其中发生，"李昌昱说。
他回忆道，餐厅刚开业的头几年，常有顾客反复提出想吃年糕火锅。
年糕由糯米制成，在中韩两国都是广受欢迎的小吃。"但无论在中国还是韩国，你都找不到'年糕火锅'这道菜，"李昌昱说。
在听了多年的顾客需求后，李昌昱终于决定为当地顾客量身打造一道菜——他把这道菜做了出来。
自推出以来，这道菜在他的餐厅里已经连续畅销八年。
李昌昱说，后来他把这道菜带回了韩国，没想到很快也在当地流行起来。"之后几年我回韩国时，发现卖年糕火锅的餐厅越来越多了，"他补充道。
李昌昱说，餐厅也是一个交友甚至寻觅恋人的绝佳场所。
"有一男一女两位年轻人在我店里吃了五年饭，"李昌昱说。
"他们从相识，到成为朋友，最后走到了一起，成为恋人。"
他还说，如今这对夫妻依然经常光顾，身边还多了一个小宝宝。
Sense of belonging
Ininahazwe Bonfils Ildephonse from the Bahamas, a young man teaching at a school in the Shanxi city of Xinzhou, is referred to as a language genius by his students because of his fluency in seven languages.
Ildephonse learned Chinese at the Confucius Institute in his home country and was attracted by the rich cultural connotations behind the language. He decided to experience the culture himself and he arrived in China in 2019.
After graduating from a Chinese university, Ildephonse came to Xinzhou in 2024 to work as an English teacher.
In the Xinzhou school he works with, he has shown patience in helping students who are curious about English but dare not speak it.
"Take it easy and start from 'hello'," he encouraged students. From words and sentences to natural dialogues, he said he is happy to see students make steady progress.
He is also happy to see himself integrated with the local community.
"Once I took part in a reality show in the Old City of Xinzhou, donning an ancient costume," Ildephonse said. "When my presence drew big applause from the audience members, I had a strong sense of belonging deep in my heart."
His talent in language is helping him develop a promising career. At present, he runs a trading company and a travel agency in Xinzhou that caters to overseas clients.
However, the livestreaming business is what he especially takes pride in. As an internet influencer, he regards Xinzhou as his second hometown and deems it his mission to introduce the local culture and life to the world, using multiple languages.
"The ancient city of Xinzhou is where I'm living now," Ildephonse told his audience members.
"This is a place definitely worth visiting because of its wealth of cultural heritage and vibrant life."
归属感
来自巴哈马的李之轩（Ininahazwe Bonfils Ildephonse）在山西忻州的一所学校任教，因为能流利使用七种语言，被学生们称为"语言天才"。
李之轩在家乡的孔子学院学习了中文，并被语言背后丰富的文化内涵所吸引。他决定亲身感受中国文化，于2019年来到中国。
从中国的一所大学毕业后，李之轩于2024年来到忻州，担任英语教师。
在他工作的忻州学校里，他耐心地帮助那些对英语充满好奇却不敢开口的学生。
"别紧张，从'你好'开始，"他这样鼓励学生。从单词、句子到自然对话，看到学生们不断进步，他感到非常高兴。
他也欣喜地看到自己融入了当地社区。
"有一次，我在忻州古城参加了一档真人秀节目，穿上了古装，"李之轩说，"当我出场赢得观众热烈掌声时，内心深处涌起一股强烈的归属感。"
他的语言天赋正帮助他开拓前景广阔的事业。目前，他在忻州经营一家贸易公司和一家旅行社，为海外客户提供服务。
不过，他最引以为傲的是直播事业。作为一名网络红人，他把忻州视为第二故乡，并将用多种语言向世界介绍当地文化和生活视为自己的使命。
"忻州古城就是我现在生活的地方，"李之轩对观众们说，"这里文化底蕴深厚，生活充满活力，绝对值得一游。"
Snacks delight
Liu Lin from the Shanxi city of Datong is a Chinese teacher at St. Joan of Arc School in the French city of Clermont-Ferrand.
She enjoys sharing Shanxi snacks — either delivered or made by herself — with her students. She once passed Datong-flavor moon cakes to everyone in the classroom. The students' reaction was extraordinary:"C'est trop bon (extremely delicious)!" they shouted with a thumbs-up.
Liu is a veteran teacher of Chinese in France. Her mission in the country started in 2014 in Strasbourg and she worked there for four years. She then came to France again in 2023 and has taught in Clermont-Ferrand since.
Liu said her scheduled tenure in the French school should end in May 2025.
"The students here were reluctant to depart with me, so I applied for a prolonged term," she said.
Liu never confines her teaching to textbooks. She has introduced Shanxi's cultural assets, including Datong's Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple — or Xuankong Temple as locals call it, to students using digital tools.
She also taught them folk songs and dialects of Shanxi and brought Shanxi's creative cultural products, like the miniatures of Yungang Grottoes'Buddha statues, to her students, allowing them to better understand the traditions and cultural assets of her home province.
She said that her happiest moments were when her students won awards in contests on Chinese culture held in France, like recitals of Confucian classics and Chinese singing competitions.
"I am proud of my students,"Liu said. "Together we contribute to bridging the cultures of the two countries."
舌尖上的美味
来自山西大同的刘琳是法国克莱蒙费朗市圣女贞德学校的一名中文教师。
她喜欢与学生们分享山西小吃——有的是从家乡寄来的，有的是她亲手制作的。她曾把大同风味的月饼分发给班上的每一个人。学生们的反应非同寻常："C'est trop bon（太好吃了）！"他们竖起大拇指欢呼道。
刘琳是一位经验丰富的在法中文教师。她于2014年首次赴法任教，在斯特拉斯堡工作了四年。2023年，她再次来到法国，此后一直在克莱蒙费朗任教。
刘琳说，按照原定计划，她在这所法国学校的任教期应于2025年5月结束。
"这里的学生们不舍得我离开，所以我申请了延期。"
刘琳从不把自己的教学局限于课本。她借助数字化工具，向学生们介绍了山西的文化遗产，包括大同的云冈石窟和悬空寺（当地人称之为悬空寺）。
她还教学生们唱山西民歌、说山西方言，并带来了山西的文创产品，比如云冈石窟佛像的微缩模型，让学生们更好地了解她家乡的传统与文化。
她说，最开心的时刻莫过于学生们在法国举办的中文文化竞赛中获奖，比如儒家经典诵读比赛和中文歌曲比赛。
"我为我的学生们感到骄傲，"刘琳说，"我们共同为搭建两国文化交流的桥梁贡献着力量。"
Jinshang spirit
Wei Jiaqi from the city of Linfen has admired the Shanxi merchants — or Jinshang — since his childhood.
The merchants were pioneers in China's global business operations centuries ago. They usually started from vendors trading products overseas, and strove for prosperity with hard work, an enterprising spirit and an innovative mind. These qualities were respected by later generations as Jinshang spirit.
Like the Jinshang, Wei's career began from humble origins. After graduating from university, he chose to work at a logistics unit of China Railway Group, or CREC, supplying rail components to railway construction sites in China. With a keenness to learn, Wei gained experience in supply chain management for several years.
Showing great interest in working overseas, he was assigned to a CREC-built mine project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Upon his arrival, Wei found that the CREC and its local partners were challenged by a rise in the price of explosives. He learned that the price hike was an intentional move by the local suppliers, who sought greater profit.
Three years later, Wei was transferred to Sierra Leone to work for another mining project contracted by CREC.
In Sierra Leone, the supply chain was severely challenged because of its underdeveloped economy.
Wei and his colleagues made extensive tours of neighboring countries to find supply partners. As a result, an effective cross-border supply chain was established, ensuring the construction and operation of the mining project.
"I was extremely happy to hear that this project can contribute billions of dollars to the country annually," Wei said.
晋商精神
Wei Jiaqi, a staff member of China Railway Group, poses for a group photo with his local colleagues in Sierra Leone.
来自临汾的魏佳琦自幼便敬佩晋商。
数百年前，晋商是中国全球商业贸易的先驱。他们往往从小商贩起步，将商品销往海外，凭借勤奋努力、进取精神和创新意识拼搏致富。这些品质被后人尊称为"晋商精神"。
与晋商一样，魏佳琦的职业生涯也是从基层起步的。大学毕业后，他选择加入中国中铁股份有限公司（CREC）的一个物流部门，为中国境内的铁路施工现场供应铁路配件。凭借好学肯干的精神，他积累了几年的供应链管理经验。
由于对海外工作表现出浓厚兴趣，他被派往中国中铁在刚果民主共和国承建的一个矿山项目。
抵达后，魏佳琦发现中铁及其当地合作伙伴正面临炸药涨价的难题。他了解到，这次涨价是当地供应商为牟取更高利润而采取的有意之举。
为解决这一问题，魏佳琦建议通过与海外供应商合作来延伸供应链，这迫使当地供应商大幅降价，为中铁及其合作伙伴每年节省了210万美元。
三年后，魏佳琦被调往塞拉利昂，为中国中铁承建的另一个矿山项目工作。
在塞拉利昂，由于当地经济欠发达，供应链面临严峻挑战。
魏佳琦和同事们广泛考察了周边国家，寻找供应伙伴。最终，一条高效的跨境供应链得以建立，保障了矿山项目的建设和运营。
"听说这个项目每年能为这个国家贡献数十亿美元，我感到无比欣慰，"魏佳琦说。
Charm rediscovered
Just like Korean Lee Changook who decided to live in Taiyuan for love's sake, Taiyuan resident Yang Miao followed in the footsteps of her Mexican boyfriend to emigrate in 2019. She has lived in Mexico since.
When in China, Yang was a successful entrepreneur in the livestreaming and e-commerce sector. In Mexico, Yang and her boyfriend, who is known as Maodou on the internet, set up a livestreaming business, promoting bilateral cultural exchanges while selling products from both countries.
A recent short video, featuring Maodou eating tacos, garnered tens of millions of views in China and aroused great interest in the Mexican snack. The couple have also introduced Chinese snacks and culture to Mexicans via livestream and short videos, building a bridge of exchange for the two peoples.
Their stories were also heard by the Chinese embassy in Mexico. In February 2022, they were invited to attend an embassy event to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. There they were awarded for their contribution to bilateral cultural and economic exchanges.
In 2023, Yang and Maodou returned to Shanxi. As his first visit to Shanxi, Maodou showed interest in everything, from ancient buildings, local traditions and arts to snacks.
Maodou said he was especially happy when learning the local Jin Opera from teachers in Qixian county, the hometown of Yang.
He used his camera to record his experiences in Shanxi and told stories to his audience in Mexico via livestreaming.
"From the perspective of Maodou, I rediscovered the charm of Shanxi, even in things we neglected in the past," Yang said."I'm happy that the stories of Shanxi are known to so many people in another hemisphere."
重拾魅力
Yang Miao, a Shanxi native living in Mexico, takes a wedding photo with her husband.
正如韩国人李昌昱因爱情选择定居太原一样，太原市民杨淼也追随墨西哥男友的脚步，于2019年移居国外。此后，她一直生活在墨西哥。
在中国时，杨淼是直播电商领域的成功创业者。在墨西哥，杨淼和她的男友（网名"毛豆"）创办了一家直播公司，在销售两国产品的同时，促进双边文化交流。
最近，一条毛豆吃墨西哥卷饼的短视频在中国获得了数千万的播放量，引发了人们对这种墨西哥小吃的浓厚兴趣。这对情侣还通过直播和短视频向墨西哥人介绍中国的美食和文化，为两国人民搭建起了一座交流的桥梁。
他们的故事也传到了中国驻墨西哥大使馆。2022年2月，他们受邀参加使馆举行的中墨建交50周年纪念活动。在那里，他们因对两国文化和经济交流做出的贡献而受到表彰。
2023年，杨淼和毛豆回到了山西。这是毛豆第一次到访山西，从古建筑、当地传统与艺术，到各种小吃，他对一切都充满好奇。
毛豆说，在杨淼的家乡祁县向老师们学习晋剧时，他感到格外开心。
他用镜头记录下自己在山西的经历，并通过直播向墨西哥的观众讲述这些故事。
"透过毛豆的视角，我重新发现了山西的魅力，哪怕是我们过去习以为常的东西，"杨淼说。"看到山西的故事能被地球另一端那么多人了解，我感到非常高兴。"
来源：山西国际传播中心
发布于：北京市