How-to China: German vlogger enchanted with Chinese culture

Robert Adolf, center, a German vlogger commonly known as "德国的包子" (Germany's steamed stuffed bun), takes photos with Miao people in ethnic garb at Xijiang Qianhu Miao village in Leishan county, Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Nov 17, 2021. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Q: What was your previous impression of China before coming here? And how do you feel now?

Adolf: My impression of China was mainly shaped by documentaries, movies, books and cartoons I watched or read when I was younger. I was first fascinated by Chinese culture when I watched the Disney animation Mulan as a child. The costumes were exotic and the martial arts were incredible. So I always had an image of a mysterious country with a rich history.

With the huge economic and infrastructural improvements over the last few decades in China, quite a lot of cities are now super modern and huge. Nevertheless, they are still rich in history and a lot of cultures can be found, especially in the countryside.

Germany also has some provinces but they belong to the same minority, so their culture has just a little difference. It's simply magical, and to think there are 56 ethnic groups in the country. I am stunned by the diversity in costumes, dialects, food and celebrations among the different ethnic villages.