"Changsha gives me a strong sense of safety and belonging. I've been involved in this city," said Huang Bingbing, a Hunan Normal University student from Indonesia.

Changsha, an internet-famous city with distinctive culture and charm, has attracted many young students from around the world. In the eyes of three international students of Hunan Normal University, Changsha City is charming, full of vitality, and with profound culture. The city's media arts, delicious food, night fairs, and convenient traffic demonstrate its openness and inclusiveness.

As for Chen Yiqi from Malaysia, a university is a window for cultural exchange. She learnt from Hunan TV and other media that Hunan is a multi-ethnic province where various ethnic cultures interact and integrate. As an art design major who loves ethnic culture, Chen often goes out with friends in her spare time to create landscape paintings. She and other 15 Malaysian students wore traditional costumes and performed at the university's international cultural festival. She expects to act as a friendship "envoy" and contribute to the cultural exchanges between China and Malaysia.

Xie Yihui, a student from Malaysia, is enthusiastic about online shopping in China. "The internet payment here is so convenient. Moreover, when I shop online, free and speedy delivery is available for even very cheap goods, two or three yuan. I really cannot help enjoying shopping." She thought that the convenience of online shopping is largely due to China's logistics, e-commerce, and other related industries, which have elevated the Chinese people's sense of happiness. 

"The happiest thing is that I've made many warm friends here." Huang Bingbing recalled that she once got a fever on the second day of her summer camp in Guizhou Province this year. Some unfamiliar campers added her on WeChat and cared for her, which made her feel warm. She had been to Shanghai, Hangzhou, and other Chinese cities and experienced different local conditions and customs. When she visited a new place, she shared her tour online with her family and friends in Indonesia.

Chen Yiqi and Xie Yihui are enchanted by Hunan's rich cultural and tourism resources. They plan to tour the province in the coming Spring Festival holiday to appreciate Hunan's splendid culture and landscapes.

As for the future, the three students said they long to pursue further development and education in Hunan. Meanwhile, they expected more and more foreign friends to study in and tour China and better understand the real China.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: chinanews