Zhoomartova Aidana is a Kyrgyz student studying at Tianjin Foreign Studies University. After living in the Chinese north coastal city of Tianjin, she has become quite familiar with old China, its culture and local customs. When meeting with our reporter, You Yang, Aidana acted as a guide while showcasing her extensive knowledge of Tianjin's historical landmarks and modern attractions.
How to find a good guide in Tianjin?
Zhoomartova Aidana is right for the job!
A piece of pancake rolled with crisp fritter, cross talk, and fried dough twist – that's all the local treats she showed me – as a newcomer to the coastal city.
YOU YANG CGTN Reporter "Hi Dana, thank you so much for your time!"
ZHOOMARTOVA AIDANA Kyrgyz Student in Tianjin "Welcome to Tianjin. Nice to meet you."
YOU YANG CGTN Reporter "What kind of Tianjin are you going to show me today?"
ZHOOMARTOVA AIDANA Kyrgyz Student in Tianjin "Let's first try a Tianjin speciality- pancake rolled with crisp fritter - or called 'Jianbingguozi.'"
YOU YANG CGTN Reporter "Which flavor do you prefer?"
ZHOOMARTOVA AIDANA Kyrgyz Student in Tianjin "I like the ones with crisp fritters. But I've found most of the local people like the ones with deep-fried dough sticks."
Dana shows me through bustling streets, the aroma of street food mingling with sea breeze, each step revealing layers of cultural richness, a tapestry woven with history and modernity.
As we navigated narrow alleys, laughter and chatter echoed, ancient architecture stood proudly beside sleek skyscrapers, a testament to Tianjin's evolving charm.
27-year-old Dana is a student studying at Tianjin Foreign Studies University.
As a master's student from Kyrgyzstan, she has been living in Tianjin for 5 years.
ZHOOMARTOVA AIDANA Kyrgyz Student in Tianjin "My major is International Chinese Language Education. We've learned a lot about Chinese culture and customs. After these years of studying, I found myself deeply in love with China. Thus, I aim to leverage my major to serve as a friendly bridge between China and Kyrgyzstan."
And Dana says for the future, she would love to stay in China and dedicate herself to the education of the Chinese language as well as its ancient culture.
Many international students in Tianjin Foreign Studies University are just like Dana.
ZHOOMARTOVA AIDANA Kyrgyz Student in Tianjin "I think people-to-people exchanges are significant for relationships among nations. Only by coming to China can we truly understand China. And every international student like me can bring back what we have seen and heard in China to our own country. To let people from other parts of the world see a real China."
Chinese authorities say that currently, over 120,000 international students from SCO member states or observers are studying in China.
And data show that nearly 64 percent of international students from SCO countries plan to stay in China for development after graduation, an increase of 28 percent compared to five years ago.
And these numbers might be the best proof of "the friendship of nations lies in the affinity of people".
新闻来源：https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-08-13/VHJhbnNjcmlwdDg1OTQ5/index.html
（网页编辑/金倍伊）
