This summer, Lu Shan (Chinese name) from Moldova, graduated from Shaanxi Normal University with a doctorate degree and started teaching Russian at Xi'an International University.
And his passion for China and Chinese culture only keeps getting stronger. "I want to live in Xi'an for a long time," he said in fluent Mandarin.
Lu Shan from Moldova takes a break from teaching Russian at Xi'an International University. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
He has been interested in Chinese culture since he was a child. When applying for university in 2013, Lu chose the Free International University of Moldova because it boasted the only Confucius Institute in Moldova and was the only university offering a major in Chinese.
During his undergraduate studies, Lu majored in English and studied Chinese as a second foreign language.
In 2016, he graduated with a bachelor's degree and applied to study for a master's degree at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an.
In the autumn of 2016, he enrolled there as a master's student majoring in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. After graduating two years later, he became a doctoral student at its School of International Studies.
Lu Shan enjoys a dish of biangbiang hand-pulled noodles at a restaurant in Xi'an. [Photo/Xi'an news network]
There, he focused on cross-linguistic and cultural research. For his graduation thesis, he relied on the Russian translation of the philosophical classic Tao Te Ching and wrote a 170,000-word thesis in Chinese.
This is Lu's eighth year living in Xi'an. When talking about food in Xi'an, he could barely contain his excitement. "The food in Xi'an is so rich! Almost all the ingredients used there are available in my hometown, but the cooking methods are completely different!"
Over the years he got to witness Xi'an's development and was deeply impressed by the rapid pace of change.
Now he is planning to bring his family to Xi'an for a holiday.
"I want my family to experience the city where I spent the most beautiful stage of my life!" he said emphatically.