Editor’s Note: Hyder Alawi is a Canadian citizen, currently studying at Tianjin University for a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering. During the past winter vacation and the Chinese Spring Festival, Hyder took a few trips to Chinese citites and got a closer look into Chinese people and culture. Below is Hyder’s traveling story.
Hyder Alawi and his dear mother
It had been several years since I have had the opportunity to enjoy a Spring Festival celebration in China, so, naturally, excitement at the prospect was very high. A week prior to the Chinese New Year, I was already in Langfang, a small city between Beijing and Tianjin, where I thought I would go to visit some old friends and locations I used to frequent in my Bachelor degree years, before the hype and hectic travelling spree that usually occurs during this season. However, after returning to campus, I decided that I was not yet satisfied with just this small trip to Langfang and decided that I would take a trip to the South of China to escape the cold winter and see a different side of this country that I haven’t yet experienced. The following day I found myself at the train station with the same bag I had packed a week earlier and boarding the slow train. The hopes of the slow train was to enjoy the scenary and if lucky enough, find some interesting people to open up conversations with and learn new experiences from others though, unfortunately, the car was empty, to my surprise. The only companion I had was the calm engines humming, the sound of the track, the fireworks that lit up the night sky as we travelled from zone to zone and the barley visible country side.
On the slow train Chinese people called "Green Train"
Within this 19-hours trip, I found that, despite my functional Chinese skills, the accents of the train attendants were becoming stranger and stranger the more south we went. At the end, I found myself at Changsha city in Hunan Province. Unlike the grand train stations of Tianjin and Shijiazhuang (capital city of Hebei Province), where I switched trains briefly, there was a humble and quiet station sitting under the clouds and rain. There were too many taxies waiting for too few people which I ignored as to find myself a cup of coffee. Upon entering the coffee shop, the usual language skills I would often exhibit in the North failed me but the gentleman was patient enough with me after noticing that I must have travelled far to arrive here. Opening up a translator app, he helped me find a hotel that may accept foreign visitors and is close to the town centre and that is when the real journey in this city begins. I quickly hopped into a taxi and showed the driver where I was hoping to go. We laughed at our inability to communicate as properly, as we should, given the difference of accents, and before too long we arrived.
Hyder at his friend's home
After quickly checking into the hotel, dropping my bags and showering, I went downstairs and found the downtown streets just around the corner! The sight that fell over me was that of not less than 7,000 people, all walking on the long road, visiting corner shops and street vendors, music played from several street performers and the sweet and spicy smell from the food stalls took over the senses. As I lit my cigarette and passed through the crowds, I couldn’t help but notice that everyone was dressed in either the most beautiful traditional clothing or in such modern styles that would give Hollywood a run for their money. The atmosphere was that of great happiness and relief.
Changsha Street Sceneries
After talking to some locals, with the happy joy and effort of overcoming the North v. South accents, I came to understand that this year was a special time to celebrate as the Covid lock-downs have ended and that in normal years Changsha was a tourist hot-spot. The same locals invited me on a tour of the local cuisines that Changsha had to offer. Most notably was that MiFen (米粉）style of noodles. The line of people waiting to buy this dish was so long that it extended all the way to the street and I doubt that it would take them two hours like to get it. I was initially skeptical at the worthiness of such noodles given the line and wait time but I was reassured that they were indeed something special and my new friends were quickly proven correct.
The next few days I spent in exploring the downtown area. A temple was comfortably nestled in between the busy streets where locals, mostly the elder, would come and light incense and give thanks to the Deities and sit upon the benches between themselves to discuss the topics of the day. Within the hustling and bustling streets that were just outside, this was a strangely calm and quiet place to visit.
Night view at Changsha city
Within my explorations I found myself lost and upon the mountain side with no battery in my phone. The decision was made that one of two things can occur. I could go back to the signs of life not far behind me or continue on this trek deeper and deeper in between the greens and up the mountain. Naturally I kept in my pursuit and found myself resting on fallen tree trunks or large boulders on my way to the top. I reached the top by nightfall, at what time I could only guess. The scenes which I found in between the trees were that of the large bridge that connected two sides of land above a large and beautiful lake, where it seemed that both sides were fighting and competing with each other as to who can produce the most fireworks.
The high rise and skyline buildings were all lit with vibrant colors that were programmed to display moving images and patterns as to reflect the festive season. My only regret was having lost my phone battery several hours ago and unable to document this most lovely scene.
It was with a great and heavy heart that 10 days after my arrival at this city, I decided that it was time to return to Tianjin and back to my works. It was a lie I told myself that I would keep up to date with my responsibilities on this trip. As I enjoyed some street food on the corner and sat on a bench I booked my train for close to midnight that night. I was fortunate this time on the slow train back to Tianjin. It was full and I was able to meet one lovely young lady and her mother who both joined the train in the early morning. The young student was instructed to ask me questions about her English homework by her mother which I was happy to help with and later on in the afternoon a young man who works in the Pharmaceutical industry joined us. His company was very interesting as given his background we were able to discuss many issues of the day and expand our knowledge base further. He also described to me that he is soon to be married and has kindly invited me to his wedding ceremonies this summer. I look forward to seeing him and his fiance for dinner before the term begins and was very glad at my decision to take the slow train for the purpose of meeting such fascinating people.
Tianjin Train Station
All in all it was a lovely trip. As we arrived and departed at Tianjin station, I looked back at the green car, with my new friend beside me and thought to myself, “I can’t wait for my next Spring Festival experience… I wonder where I will choose next”.
Written by Hyder Alawi
Editor: Eva Yin
