"Thirty-five years ago, I couldn't make out China on a world map. And now, my identity is inseparable from the country. I can foresee that my soul will forever wander the path of Heeju. This is now my home, the home of my soul. This is a monologue from American Brian Linden's Chinese memoir "Finding Hometown in China: Linden's Story."
In 1984, Lyndon came to China for the first time. He was deeply impressed by China's customs and culture, especially in rural China, which he called "home".
Later, Lin Deng came to Dali, Yunnan Province to run a homestay, and built a communication platform to promote traditional Chinese culture. Here, he witnessed China's rapid development with the guests who came and went.
On February 11, Lin Deng and his wife celebrated the Spring Festival in Xilinyuan, Xizhou Town, Dali, Yunnan. Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
China is also my home".
How many Chinese New Year have you spent in China? Lyndon couldn't say the answer exactly. "20, or more. Linden recalled.
This year, Linden stayed in China, celebrating the festival with his family and guests from afar at Xilin Garden in Xizhou Town, Dali City, Yunnan Province. Xilin Court is an old mansion. In 2008, Lyndon and his team renovated the mansion and built the Xilinyuan Inn.
The original intention of Jianxi Forest Garden is to build a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Lin Deng said that the Spring Festival is the most solemn festival in China, and for most foreigners, it is also a window to appreciate traditional Chinese culture.
Write Spring Festival couplets, make lanterns, dance dragons ......During this year's Spring Festival, Xilin Garden has prepared a variety of activities. "Forty years ago, I didn't know anything about China, but now I can write calligraphy. Lyndon proudly said, "China is also my home."
Family reunions are the most important part of the Spring Festival and the best gift for parents and children. In this sense, each person is an important link between the past and the future. Linden said.
On February 9th, Lyndon and travelers made lanterns for the Year of the Dragon together at Xilin Garden. Photo courtesy of the interviewee.
The wonderful origin of the "encounter" with China.
In 1984, Linden came to China to study Chinese language and culture in Beijing. "Studying in China has completely changed my life. When he mentions this opportunity, he still feels amazing.
Before coming to China, Lyndon was a night college student working part-time as a carpet washer. One day, he went to the home of a university professor to wash the carpet and asked him to help him insert a marker on the world map where China was located. He looked dazed: "I don't know where China is." ”
But soon, Lyndon was captivated by the Chinese stories told by the professor. It didn't take long for him to see a poster of China's sponsored study abroad at night school, and he mustered up the courage to apply, but he didn't expect to be accepted.
A few months after arriving in China, Lyndon ushered in his first Spring Festival. At the time, he didn't speak much Chinese, and his curiosity about China led him on an "adventurous" journey, taking a train to Kaifeng, Henan Province, where he saw people writing couplets and setting off firecrackers.
I also had Chinese New Year's Eve dinner at a local's house. Although it was difficult to communicate, the Chinese always treated me with the greatest kindness. Lyndon said that "having friends from afar" is a very important part of Chinese culture.
Thanks to his experience studying in China, in 1990, Lyndon was hired by a Swedish company to work in transnational education. During his career, Lyndon has traveled to nearly 100 countries and regions. Lyndon was surprised by the lack of understanding of China among many foreigners.
With a desire to share his love for China with the world, Lyndon opened a gallery in Dole County, Wisconsin, USA, hoping to use Chinese art to showcase China's rich and diverse culture.
Over time, Lyndon found that the gallery was limited in what it could show. In order to better let the world know about China, he decided to return to China and look for a new beginning.
Xizhou Town, Dali, Yunnan Province, near Xilin Garden. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Mengyao.
China is my profession".
My life is to understand and learn about China. Lyndon said sincerely that China is his other homeland, and at the same time his "profession".
In 2004, Linden returned to China with his wife and two sons. They hope to find a traditional Chinese old house, repair and protect it, and serve as a base for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. With this goal in mind, the family traveled in China for two years before finally stopping in Xizhou, Dali, Yunnan Province.
Lin Deng said that there are three reasons for choosing Xizhou: first, there are valuable old houses here that need to be restored; second, the enthusiasm and tolerance of the local people; The third is that the local people support their ideas.
The construction of Xilinyuan adheres to the principle of "repairing the old as the old", and relies on the inn built by the old courtyard of the Bai nationality "Yang Pinxiang House" to retain the style of the Bai people's houses to the greatest extent: the pattern of "three squares and one wall" is still the same, and the exquisite wood carvings and murals are as intact as before.
On August 27, 2022, Lin Deng introduced the local culture of Dali, Yunnan Province to foreign visitors. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Mengyao An American opens an inn in rural China, which is the best advertisement for Xilinyuan. Since its opening, there has been a steady stream of foreign visitors, who have taken Xilin Garden as a starting point to enter the surrounding villages.
Local culture experience activities are a feature of Xilin Garden. Take tourists to visit the morning market in Xizhou Ancient Town, taste the Bai three-way tea or make a tie-dye work ......These are all things that Lyndon loves to do.
In 2021, in Shaxi Town, Jianchuan County, 100 kilometers away from Xizhou, another Xilinyuan Inn will be put into operation.
It is located in Xilinyuan Shaxi Store in Shilong Village, Shaxi Town, Jianchuan County, Yunnan Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Mengyao "Through the cultural exchange platform built by Linden, we can better spread the culture of our hometown to foreign tourists. Yang Liang, the housekeeper of Shaxi Xilinyuan Inn and a young man of the Bai nationality, said that he often takes foreign tourists to the village as a tour guide to experience the Jianchuan Baiqu, the Bai dance "Overlord Whip", wood carving, etc., so that they can have a deeper understanding of the local culture.
Scotsman Enda, who visited Shaxi Xilin Garden, visited the ancient town of Shaxi and the Shizhongshan Grottoes near the inn on foot. The quaint town and vivid stone carvings make Enda's eyes shine. "I saw 'China that I am not familiar with', where cultural relics and traditional culture are well protected. Enda said.
A common future.
Sitting on the observation deck of Xilin Garden, you can see the idyllic scenery of Xizhou. Linden believes the world needs to work harder to understand an open China.
Lyndon likes to call himself an idealist, but he is not a utopian, and his ideals of communication between China and the rest of the world have been engraved on the land of the Chinese countryside step by step.
Cover of Finding Hometown in China: The Story of Linden. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Ye In 2022, Lyndon published his Chinese memoir "Finding Hometown China: Linden's Story", in which he recalled his story with China, which became a love letter he wrote to China. He wanted the Chinese people to know that there are Americans in the world who sincerely love China.
Currently, Lyndon is planning to publish his memoirs in English in the United States and intends to return to the United States to promote his writings in person. "I'm a very persuasive example. He said, "I want Americans to see a different China through the eyes of a compatriot." ”
During the Spring Festival this year, Linden's youngest son, Bryce, also returned to China. In the future, he will spend more time assisting his parents in running the Helin Garden. Although he has been away from China for many years, Bryce still feels that China is an important part of his future life. I look forward to him being like me and being a part of Helin Court. Linden said.
The spirit of Chinese culture is in my blood, and it is China that nourishes me and makes me who I am," Linden said, "and we will continue to work hard to spread China's story to the world." ”
On August 28, 2022, Lyndon and his wife Jinni took a group photo with the Xilin Yuan team in Xilin Garden, Xizhou Town. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cao Mengyao.
Producer: Wei Tiemin, Liu Chang.
Curator: Lu Ye.
Reporter: Ding Yiquan, Zhao Zhiqin, Wang Anhaowei.
Editor: Lu Ye.
Xinhua News Agency to the outside.
Xinhua News Agency Yunnan Branch.
Co-production. Produced by the China Story Workshop.