Looking back on the past 10 years, there have been three turning points for me. In 2010, I was admitted to Longxi No. 1 Secondary School after studying in a countryside school for nine years. During the three years in high school, fate brought me and the Hong Kong Yellow Earth Foundation together. Along the way, the uncles and aunts of the Foundation made my journey of study smoother, and I am grateful to them.
I graduated from high school in 2013 and was admitted to Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in Yangling, Shaanxi. Four years of undergraduate studies can indeed change a person. My university time was very fulfilling and I miss it very much.
Later, I joined the work world but was lost. I finally went to graduate school. The research direction was agricultural regional development and rural planning. It was the professionalism which changed my subsequent course of development. After more than half a year’s preparation, I decided to start a business with my colleagues. At the start, we set up a planning and design company.
As agriculturalists, we must know agriculture, love agriculture, strengthen agriculture, and make agriculture flourish. My life is destined to have an indissoluble bond with the yellow earth. I was born in the yellow earth, grow up in the yellow earth, and love to be in the yellow earth. In the past two years, I have been to a few villages to do research. I feel deeply that China’s agricultural and rural development foundation is still weak, and the ability to resist risks is insufficient. I hope to do something in rural construction, not forgetting my original intention and forging ahead.
(The photo was taken in August 2020 in Suide, Shaanxi, where 24 hilltops had been flattened to plant mountain apples.)
Wang Huaizhou – Graduated from the College of Agriculture of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University in 2020, and immediately founded Yangling Zhiyan Agricultural Development Co. Ltd. Currently General Manager of the company.
It happens to be the day of Frost Descent, and autumn in the north is coming to an end. I come to the National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit Daxiangshan Scenic Area and the autumn scenery is still there. Tree after tree are whistling autumn tunes; mountain after mountain are tinted with colours of the cold. The mountains are full of pines and cypresses, while lilacs are rich in colour. Pavilions are built along the mountainside, and their richly carved and painted beams and pillars can be seen through the swaying green trees. The Gangu Giant Buddha gazes at the entire Daxiangshan Park, presenting a most majestic picture. I am not only awestruck by the uncanny workmanship of nature which blends with the autumn scenery in mutual radiance, but also feel that to be part of it is a heavenly act.
Ma Xiaoming – Graduated from Lanzhou University in 2019, now working in the People’s Government Office of Min County, Dingxi City
Xinjiang people have a unique preference for strong and generous noodles. Just as Lanzhou people who return to their hometown will choose a bowl of beef noodles, Xi’an people will choose a bowl of steamed buns, and Guangzhou people will choose wonton noodles, a portion of noodles tossed with oily beef and mutton, spicy red skin (onion), celery, etc. is an appropriate choice. If you are not used to such food, you will probably miss a lot of stories in Xinjiang.
Xinjiang noodles are more chewy than Lanzhou beef noodles, Shaanxi saozi noodles, etc. This lies in the thickness of the noodles. When I first went to Xinjiang, I had to make a lot of effort to adapt to this taste. Later, when I returned home, I felt that the noodles in my hometown (Dingxi, Gansu) did not have the same kind of rich fragrance. I used to tell the café operator, “Oily meat with more noodle”, which meant a portion of noodle tossed with oily meat plus another, small portion of noodles to satisfy my big appetite. If there are any shortcomings, it is that Xinjiang lacks an exclusive verb similar to “bite” which people in Shaanxi use in place of “eat” in the expression “eat rice.”
Chang Kai – Graduated from Xinjiang Shihezi University, now a graduate student of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
The ethnic minorities I come across in my hometown of Beitun, Xinjiang, are mainly Uyghurs and Kazakhs. Many high school students in the same grade are of Kazakh ethnicity. The girls I meet more often are Kazakh girls, all of them very pretty, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, very much like Europeans. We Han people do not have the same distinctive features as ethnic minorities.
They have a special festival called “Gurban Festival”, which is their Spring Festival. Every Gurban Festival, they have an 8-day holiday. When school starts, they will bring some homemade cakes and things like that for the teachers. There is a kind of noodle called “sanzi”, a fragrant fried food.
One of my elementary school classmates is a Uyghur. The family runs a shop selling “nangs”. I always remember his father having thick eyebrows and big eyes, smiling with squinted eyes and wearing a huge belly like a general. This picture shows the nangs, which come in all shapes, big and small, sweet and savoury. They come straight from the special oven nearby.
We also have a breakfast shop run by Kazakhs. There is a kind of pasta called “youxiang” or “Borsak”, which is also a kind of fried food, very similar to oily cakes. Besides, it is usually eaten with milk tea. The milk tea here is salty and is made with tea bricks and milk.
Although our looks and living habits are different, the various ethnic groups live in harmony and love each other in this small city.
Bai Lingran – Sichuan Agricultural University
After graduating from university, my family wanted me to stay in Lanzhou, which is not very far from home, so I worked as an accountant in a company. After two years, I felt that there was no room or opportunity for improvement, and, having finally convinced my parents, I came to Shanghai early last year.
Speaking of Shanghai, people’s preconceived impression is its fast tempo. The ground is always crowded with rushing people making a living and pursuing their dreams. Sometimes even the clouds in the sky seem to drift faster than those in the distance. Working hard in Shanghai, I have a deep understanding of this. Taking advantage of the break, I wander in the old streets of Shanghai, watching as I walk. I use my camera to record the scenery, which is completely different from the city centre. Time seems to slow down in the air which is filled with smoke from kitchen fire, and my busy heart then calms down.
Feng Jinxia – Graduated from Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics in 2016, now working in a listed company in Shanghai
What a beautiful Northern University for Nationalities it is in autumn!
I am a freshman here. Before I first entered the campus, I was full of curiosity and expectations for everything, and full of yearning and immeasurable longing for a beautiful life in university. Since arrival, I have not been disappointed at all.
Unlike in high school, study life in university is never at a standstill. Here, we can have long conversations with every teacher, exchange views and explore various academic issues. We can also communicate with classmates to learn about ethnic cultures and appreciate their charms. Life is so happy. We can go to the magnificent and sacred library to cruise in the ocean of knowledge, or go to the gymnasium to keep fit and let go our youthful sweat and vitality.
In university we have more time to do what we like and to cultivate our own hobbies. Through participating in various club activities, we can nourish our thoughts and enhance our ability. As a law student, I will definitely learn the professional knowledge, enrich myself and strengthen dialectical thinking, in order to serve society, serve the people, and realise the values of life.
University is a stage where you can let go yourself and realise the values of life. A modern, young undergraduate will achieve his ego in the university, make his dreams come true, and strive to turn into reality China’s dream of the great renaissance of the Chinese race.
Jia Jishun – Admitted to Northern University for Nationalities in 2020
The crystal snow hangs on the branches of ginkgo just like that.
The first snow in 2020 is amazingly beautiful. I have stayed at Lanzhou F&E University for just over a month but have already felt the change from autumn to winter. This is a wonderful experience that time gives us. The first snow heralds the pace of winter, and also augurs the growing of hope when, some day, the winter will disperse and the galaxy will shine long and bright.
Dong Wen – Lanzhou University of Finance and Economics
In September of this year, I came to Jiamusi University in Heilongjiang to study. The solar term Beginning of Winter has just passed and it is already colder than the harsh winter in my hometown. Today’s minimum temperature is minus 11 degrees and the playground will be frozen in a few days. I will have to learn skating as they say it will be down to around minus 30 degrees very soon 😨
I am fortunate enough to see such a beautiful snow scene here. The snow in the northland flutters down, withering the trees, whitening the city, and making the city feel cold. But it has made a group of little guys feel happy; the snow in our hands exudes warmth like a fire. It cools the city and warms people’s hearts. I love you, the snow of the northland!
(Written on November 10, 2020)
Yao Bo – Admitted to Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Jiamusi University in 2020
It has been two months since I came to this heroic city of Wuhan. Because of the heavy workload of studies and community work, I seldom go out of school to appreciate the whole picture of this city. Last week, my class organised a trip to Maanshan Forest Park. I found the scenery along the way completely different from Gansu. In particular, there are many rivers and lakes here. You can see the presence of water inside and outside the park – even when you walk casually on the street – making the city look particularly gentle and display its unique charm!
Li Xiaoyan – Wuhan University of Technology