Journey Across Borders: The Story of a Passionate Traveler
2024-12-09
Calabria is located in southern Italy, a sunny place and also the place where I was born and raised. Since childhood, I have been curious about this colorful world and want to explore the unique cultural charm of different countries. The famous Italian journalist and writer Tiziano Terzani once said, "Travel is not a vacation, but a way of life." This sentence planted a small seed in my heart and strengthened my steps to embark on a journey around the world and become a global citizen in the future. Reflection on China: A Cultural Journey from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. At the age of 16, I first came to China as an exchange student and enrolled in a high school in Guangzhou. This is also my first time living alone in a place thousands of miles away from home. This ancient Eastern land is both rich in heritage and mysterious in color, deeply attracting me. Whether it's the bustling streets and alleys, or the antique Chinese architecture, everything is so novel and unique that I can't wait to unveil its beautiful veil. Guangzhou is the starting point for my exposure to Chinese culture, and it is one of the core areas of Lingnan culture and Guangfu culture in China. This is also a famous "culinary capital" in China, with the reputation of "eating in Guangzhou". Among them, I was particularly impressed by the variety and delicious taste of Dim sum in Guangzhou. In the teahouse, people always sit together in twos and threes, order a pot of tea and some baskets of refined Dim sum, and chat while eating. Delicate and small Dim sum, such as Shaomai, shrimp dumplings and egg tarts, are usually placed in small steamers or plates, one at a time, which is very convenient. As my understanding of Guangfu culture gradually deepened, I gradually realized that drinking morning tea is also a unique local culture: it is not only a dietary habit, but also a way of life and social interaction. People go to tea houses not only to taste delicious food, but also to enjoy the leisure of communication and sharing time with family and friends. Morning tea culture has long been an indispensable part of Lingnan culture in China, carrying people's love for food and passion for life. Guangzhou Morning Tea is a city that perfectly blends history and modernity. As a busy metropolis with a population of more than 18 million, the Pearl River New Town, with landmarks such as Guangzhou Tower, Haixinsha and many high-rise buildings, shows the modernization of Guangzhou. This place attracts waves of idealistic young people to pursue their dreams, and it is also the core area of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area in China. However, in this colorful neon city, the imprint of history is still clearly visible. Beijing Road is one of the tourist destinations in Guangzhou, bustling both day and night. This used to be the heart of ancient Guangzhou, and more than two thousand years later, it still maintains its important position as a commercial center. What surprised me the most was that there are still well preserved stone pavement ruins on Beijing Road. When I see these historical relics from different dynasties and generations up close, it is not difficult to imagine that hundreds of years ago, various vendors and citizens also walked here like us. Nowadays, as time passes by, Beijing Road remains bustling with numerous shops, carrying on the millennium old commercial and street culture. The Chen Family Ancestral Hall is another place that left a deep impression on me about Lingnan culture in China. Upon entering the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the first thing that catches the eye is the towering gate tower, adorned with intricate and lifelike decorations - and the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is renowned for its exquisite wood, stone, and brick carving techniques. Ancestral halls are an important part of Chinese culture, with profound historical heritage and rich cultural connotations. Ancestral halls are not only places for clan members to worship their ancestors, but also cultural centers for educating future generations. Walking between the halls, looking at the walls and tiles here, I couldn't help but imagine: an ancient and vast family living here, a picture of "harmony and prosperity" seems to come into view. 'Seeing is believing', this is also the first time I have intuitively felt the important position of family ties and traditional culture in Chinese society. In addition, the warmth and hospitality of the local people also made me feel very warm. Whenever I communicate with local street visitors, they often share their life experiences or provide me with help very warmly and readily. I saw an optimistic and positive attitude towards life from them, which reminded me of the equally enthusiastic and generous people in my hometown of Calabria in southern Italy. And Guangzhou has thus become a place that I will never forget. As my journey to China gradually unfolded, Hong Kong became my second stop. Although Hong Kong is a southern city like Guangzhou, due to its unique geographical location and historical background, it has become an international metropolis where Eastern and Western cultures converge, bringing me a completely different experience. Here, I often hear conversations in different languages, including the language of my hometown - Italian. When I accidentally hear familiar language on the street, it feels both wonderful and familiar. People from all over the world and different cultures meet, communicate, and live here. Therefore, Hong Kong has become more diversified and international in all aspects, from food to entertainment, from language to fashion, with world-class arts and cultural activities and top sports events gathered in this' Asian Capital of Events'. Similarly to the bustling night scene in Hong Kong, the protection and inheritance of traditional Chinese culture have never ceased. Here, people still celebrate the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and other traditional festivals, and traditional activities such as lion dancing and Loong Boat racing are also popular. Not only that, people will also integrate traditional culture and cultural customs into film and television works, and promote them, making "Chinese Kung Fu" famous worldwide. Many international friends have their first impression of Chinese culture from these movies. And the inclusive and diverse cultural landscape of Hong Kong also deeply fascinates me. Every trip has given me a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. When I look back on my journey in China, in addition to memories of delicious food and beautiful scenery, I deeply feel the weight and power of Chinese culture. By immersing myself in local life and experiencing local culture, I have gained a more substantial and vivid impression of China. This even makes me feel that I am no longer just a visitor, but a new "Chinese" who can have a deep connection with this land. And what I have seen and heard along the way has also allowed me to understand different lifestyles and values during an important period of personal growth, gradually cultivating my awareness as a global citizen. Embracing the Baltic Sea: A Journey Through Latvia and Estonia After my trip to China, my desire to explore the world became even stronger. Soon, I set off for the Baltic Sea region in Northern Europe. Latvia is the first destination of this trip. Here, medieval architecture coexists with masterpieces of new art, creating a rich cultural atmosphere. The famous Blackhead House is located in the heart of the old town area of Riga, the capital city. It has a magnificent medieval architectural style and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Blackhead House is not only a brilliant symbol of Latvian architectural art, but also a beacon of unity for the Latvian people, representing the steadfast and tenacious spiritual strength of a country that has withstood the test of historical storms. At the same time, it is also a testament to the gem like resilience, pride, and beauty of the Baltic Sea. Not far from the Blackhead House, the famous "Three Brothers" are located on the beautiful streets of Riga. This is a complex of three medieval houses, each with its own unique features. From Gothic to Dutch Renaissance style, and then to Baroque, every brick and tile spans hundreds of years of history, showcasing Latvia's colorful and fascinating history in different ways. I also visited the Latvian National Library located on the left bank of the Dogava River. The geometric lines and glass facades of the building highlight a strong modern atmosphere and are known as the 'Castle of Light'. Standing high in the library, I saw the stunning skyline, enchanting sunset glow, panoramic view of Riga's old city, and the tranquil flow of the Dogava River. A local friend told me that during the relocation of the library, over 14000 citizens formed a long "human chain" and handed over more than 2000 books one by one from the old library. The large number of books and precious manuscripts collected here are the guardians of Latvian literature and play an indispensable role in establishing national cultural identity. The enchanting scenery of Latvia left Latvia and I came to Estonia. Estonia has a long history, nurtured by the Baltic Sea, giving birth to unique cultural charm and strong Nordic charm. My journey began in the capital city of Tallinn, whose old town is a living fossil of Estonia's recent centuries of history, perfectly preserving medieval classical architecture. For example, intact city walls, watchtowers, and winding alleys; Famous buildings such as Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Tumpya Castle. When it comes to the old town of Tallinn, it is necessary to mention my feeling of overlooking the panoramic view of the city from the Kotuosa and Patkuli observation decks: standing on Mount Tumpi, quietly observing the red tiled roofs and church spires from afar, as well as the magnificent scenery of the Baltic Sea in the distance... I am completely immersed in the beautiful scenery in front of my eyes, the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, and am extremely intoxicated. Tallinn is still a vibrant living space that brings abundant energy to people who come and go. When I came, it was winter and the lively Christmas market was the highlight of Tallinn. Whenever I shuttle through the flickering lights and colorful festival decorations, amidst the rich aroma of wine and joyful celebration music, I feel warm and joyful. The traditional cuisine in the market, such as sausages, grilled meat, sweet pastries, and gingerbread, also showcases strong local characteristics. Especially 'Glogg', the Estonian word for hot wine, is my favorite. Drinking a steaming glass of wine with friends in winter, letting the warm breath rise in my body, and chatting about interesting things in life while walking... This is also one of my most precious memories of this trip. The street and snow scenes of Estonia return to southern Italy: After traveling to multiple countries and regions, I suddenly realized that there are still many places in my hometown that I rarely set foot in. So, I decided to embark on a new journey. Embark from Sicily and rediscover the charm of southern Italy. Syracuse in Sicily is not unfamiliar to many people, and the famous movie "The Beautiful Legend of Sicily" was filmed in this city. Syracuse is still a city with profound cultural heritage. It was once a city-state of ancient Greeks with strong power, and was able to rival Athens in ancient Greece. Therefore, in the archaeological park of Nepolis, I can see well preserved ancient Greek theaters, the ear of Dionysius, limestone caves, and many other historical sites dating back to the 5th century BC. The large number of ancient Greek buildings here also attract scholars and tourists from all over the world who love ancient civilization. After leaving Syracuse, I arrived in another municipality - Taurina. This small town on the cliff overlooks the Ionian Sea and is a vacation destination on the island of Sicily. At the highest point of Taurina, there is a Greek theater built by the Romans in the second century BC. Due to its unique geographical location, the theater is known as the "half sea, half flame" place. On the hillside of this ancient Greek theater, I not only enjoyed wonderful theatrical performances, but also saw spectacular sea views and volcanoes. On this historical site
Edit:Lyanna Yee,Chen Xinyan, Tao Yiwei Responsible editor:
Source:Outlook New Era
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