Spring Festival sees students and working professionals that
form a large part of Beijing's residents emptying out of the
capital to spend time with their families in hometowns, but a
certain group also takes the opportunity to discover the
country.
"I have a quest-to find the real China and see how people
celebrate this special season," Amos Nadai, Israeli ambassador in
China, told China Daily.
He plans to spend the holiday in Ping Yao, an ancient city in
Shanxi Province about 600 km west of Beijing and a United
Nations-designated World Heritage site, where he will be joined by
Israeli friends to see "what is left of the architecture and the
culture of an older China".
Nadai's interest in the Lunar New Year started when he was a
child, during which he devoured books about the country.
"So many of them gave beautiful descriptions of the Lunar New
Year-the rural villages, the family get-togethers and the
preparation for the festivities," said the ambassador.
This is also not the first time Nadai is taking such a cultural
expedition during his five-month stay in the capital.
Nadai is not alone in his quest to know the country better
during this holiday period.
Seychellois Ambassador Philippe Le Gall also said he would
"share the festive mood and join Chinese people in celebrating this
meaningful and colorful event".
To Le Gall, his first Chinese New Year will provide "an insight
into what has been preserved through thousands of years and
remained the essence of Spring Festival".
Unlike Nadai, Le Gall has no plans to go on an expedition for
that end. Instead, he believes curiosity will do the trick and he
will be rewarded with an exciting experience by just walking around
the ancient metropolis that is also Beijing.
Seychelles officially set up its embassy in the capital last
September.
The Seychellois ambassador is leaving open the kinds of
"emotions, sensations and vibrations" he is going to experience in
the coming days.
He "will keep the notebook and pencil within reach".
He also has a heartfelt new year wish-for relieve to be given as
soon as possible to "all those who continue to be terribly affected
by the bad weather conditions".
Nadai also expressed his concern over the plight that Chinese
people have been suffering in the snowstorms that recently struck
south China.
(China Daily February 5, 2008)