Foreign visitors make dumplings, go shopping and learn about daily life in Caoyang area
By Li Anlan |
June 15, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WHEN traveling abroad, one of the best ways to experience a destination is to try living like a local, at least a little.
Twenty years ago, Caoyang residential area launched a program to introduce international tourists to the daily life of Shanghai people. It's not traditional sightseeing, instead, it involves visitors in local activities and events.
These include learning to make jiaozi or dumplings, visiting a wet market and shopping for produce, as well as watching traditional song and dance performances. And throughout the year, tourist groups visit Caoyang neighborhood as a stop on their Shanghai trip.
On May 7, around 30 American senior citizens made the trip to Caoyang as part of their China trip including Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Hong Kong.
'One Day as Caoyang People'
The program was developed from simple diplomatic receptions, and it was appreciated by foreign visitors. As China is more open, it's a chance to invite them home and let them experience what ordinary people's lives are like, according to organizer of the event "One Day as Caoyang People."
At the community center, a guide first introduced visitors to the Caoyang residential district. Residents presented a lively performance of traditional song and dance as well as a qipao fashion show. Qipao is a traditional, form-fitting garment for women.
The community activity center aims to improve residents' leisure time and provide entertainment. Retirees keep busy at the center, which offers ballroom dancing, choral singing, ping-pong and other activities.
Visitors toured the center and sat in on a singing class. Fred Phipps from California stood up and sang with the choir.
Li Diping, 86, is the oldest member of the choir and was excited to meet new friends. She hugged Phipps when the song ended.
Visitors then went shopping for groceries, stopping in a wet market and visiting produce stalls - far different from the supermarket experience with all of its packaged foods. It can be chaotic, but shoppers can find the freshest produce at the lowest cost.
Tourists were interested in fruit and vegetables not usually seen in the United States, such as big, red dragon fruit.
Shanghai meals
For lunch, the tourists didn't go to a Chinese restaurant. Instead, they joined local families for an authentic Shanghainese meal. Visitors typically learn to make dumplings stuffed with pork and vegetables.
Host families purchase all the ingredients and then teach international friends.
On that day, time was short, however, and host Yi Zhiyan cooked for 16 people and demonstrated for two visitors, Linda Smith and Phyllis Pardoll.
"It's a very fun thing to do because you meet people from all around the world," says Yi, whose family is very active in the program. They meet new people and have plenty to do in their spare time.
Though most of the tourists are seniors, occasionally there are student groups.
The host families are considered "folk diplomats," because they not only cook for tourists but also tell their stories and spread good will.
Visitors typically give gifts to host families and some keep in touch for many years.
'Folk diplomats'
A few years ago, Zhou Kangle and his granddaughter were the host family for an American couple. When Zhang's granddaughter went to the US to study, the couple drove three hours to pick her up at the airport and went to her commencement.
Over the years, "One Day as Caoyang People" has become a successful brand. Some visitors are familiar with the program before visiting Shanghai and many say the Caoyang stop is among their favorite memories.
Caoyang has a long history of entertaining international guests. In 1952, it was the first workers "new village" in Shanghai that opened to the outside world. Over 60 years, it has received more than 300,000 people from more than 150 countries. Some are officials and public figures but most are ordinary people who want to get to know Chinese people.
Every year, 7,000 to 8,000 people visit Caoyang.
The neighborhood is not only a window on China, but also a vivid example of how China is changing in every aspect of social life.
Twenty years ago, Caoyang residential area launched a program to introduce international tourists to the daily life of Shanghai people. It's not traditional sightseeing, instead, it involves visitors in local activities and events.
These include learning to make jiaozi or dumplings, visiting a wet market and shopping for produce, as well as watching traditional song and dance performances. And throughout the year, tourist groups visit Caoyang neighborhood as a stop on their Shanghai trip.
On May 7, around 30 American senior citizens made the trip to Caoyang as part of their China trip including Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an and Hong Kong.
'One Day as Caoyang People'
The program was developed from simple diplomatic receptions, and it was appreciated by foreign visitors. As China is more open, it's a chance to invite them home and let them experience what ordinary people's lives are like, according to organizer of the event "One Day as Caoyang People."
At the community center, a guide first introduced visitors to the Caoyang residential district. Residents presented a lively performance of traditional song and dance as well as a qipao fashion show. Qipao is a traditional, form-fitting garment for women.
The community activity center aims to improve residents' leisure time and provide entertainment. Retirees keep busy at the center, which offers ballroom dancing, choral singing, ping-pong and other activities.
Visitors toured the center and sat in on a singing class. Fred Phipps from California stood up and sang with the choir.
Li Diping, 86, is the oldest member of the choir and was excited to meet new friends. She hugged Phipps when the song ended.
Visitors then went shopping for groceries, stopping in a wet market and visiting produce stalls - far different from the supermarket experience with all of its packaged foods. It can be chaotic, but shoppers can find the freshest produce at the lowest cost.
Tourists were interested in fruit and vegetables not usually seen in the United States, such as big, red dragon fruit.
Shanghai meals
For lunch, the tourists didn't go to a Chinese restaurant. Instead, they joined local families for an authentic Shanghainese meal. Visitors typically learn to make dumplings stuffed with pork and vegetables.
Host families purchase all the ingredients and then teach international friends.
On that day, time was short, however, and host Yi Zhiyan cooked for 16 people and demonstrated for two visitors, Linda Smith and Phyllis Pardoll.
"It's a very fun thing to do because you meet people from all around the world," says Yi, whose family is very active in the program. They meet new people and have plenty to do in their spare time.
Though most of the tourists are seniors, occasionally there are student groups.
The host families are considered "folk diplomats," because they not only cook for tourists but also tell their stories and spread good will.
Visitors typically give gifts to host families and some keep in touch for many years.
'Folk diplomats'
A few years ago, Zhou Kangle and his granddaughter were the host family for an American couple. When Zhang's granddaughter went to the US to study, the couple drove three hours to pick her up at the airport and went to her commencement.
Over the years, "One Day as Caoyang People" has become a successful brand. Some visitors are familiar with the program before visiting Shanghai and many say the Caoyang stop is among their favorite memories.
Caoyang has a long history of entertaining international guests. In 1952, it was the first workers "new village" in Shanghai that opened to the outside world. Over 60 years, it has received more than 300,000 people from more than 150 countries. Some are officials and public figures but most are ordinary people who want to get to know Chinese people.
Every year, 7,000 to 8,000 people visit Caoyang.
The neighborhood is not only a window on China, but also a vivid example of how China is changing in every aspect of social life.
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