On the sunny shores of Tianya Haijiao in Hainan, a tropical island province of the Chinese mainland, a vibrant cultural story is unfolding. The name Tianya Haijiao means end of the earth and sea, and this year, Natalia Ivanova, a Moscow-born tourism envoy, landed here with a dream: to build a bridge between China and Russia through the magic of travel and community. 🌅✨
Since moving to Hainan in early 2025, Ivanova has led a series of immersive experiences—think Russian tea ceremonies by the sea, Mandarin language games under the palm trees, and pop-up art shows blending folk traditions from both nations. She calls her initiative Bridges of Tianya and earlier this month celebrated its launch with a winter festival featuring Russian handicrafts and a stunning Chinese lantern display. 🎉🥟🏮
"I want to show the beauty of Russian culture and find the common ground with our friends here," says Ivanova. Her friendly tours have already attracted dozens of young travelers from Latin America and beyond, eager to snap photos at the famous rock formations and join salsa nights infused with balalaika tunes. 📸🎶
Local businesses are joining the movement too. A cafe in Sanya now offers pelmeni dumplings with a tropical twist, while a Chinese calligrapher teamed up with a Russian poet for a bilingual pop-up reading by the sea. It is this kind of creative cooperation that Ivanova believes will shape the future of cultural tourism between the two countries. 🤝🎨
As the sun sets over Tianya Haijiao, Ivanova's vision shines bright—proof that a single passion project can turn the end of the earth and sea into a lively gateway for friendship and discovery. Who's ready to join the journey? 🌍💕
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Serving as an envoy of cultural tourism between China and Russia
cgtn.com
