Good To Emulate The Chinese In Preserving Heritage

By Erda Khursyiah Basir SHANGHAI, June 29 (Bernama) -- Media practitioners from ASEAN member states were treated to an eye-opening experience in China recently through the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road programme. The 10-day programme that kicked off on April 17 saw the participation of 19 media practitioners from 10 ASEAN countries. It was organised by the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China (SCIO) and the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN and the ASEAN-China Year of Tourism Cooperation. We were brought on a tour to several important locations around the Hunan and Jiangxi provinces which were part of the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative, the brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jingping in 2013. As amazing as it was to hear about the progress and economic development of the region, this writer was more fascinated to see for herself the lifestyle and culture of a people known for its rich history and traditions. EMPOWERING THE MOTHER TONGUE One of the most interesting things noted by this writer during the programme is the loyalty the Chinese have for their mother tongue. Even while hosting major international events, they would use Mandarin as the official communication medium. An English translation would follow suit for the benefit of those who do not understand Mandarin. It does not seem to matter what their positions were. They could be chief executive officers of multinational companies, directors or even professors at universities but they would still converse in their first language. They used their mother language proudly, without a hint of inferiority nor apology. When ACC secretary-general Yang Xiuping delivered a speech during the programme, she also spoke in Mandarin. Many of us had silently wondered why she would do so. Surely someone of her position and stature would be able to speak English? The question that had been playing in our minds was finally answered during the farewell lunch held in her honour while we were in Jingdezhen city, Jiangxi. During the casual ceremony, Yang spoke in fluent English, prompting the question of why she did not do so before. As if reading our thoughts, Yang explained: “I prefer to speak in my mother tongue so that my people can understand. No point speaking in English if my people cannot understand me, right?” Her explanation evoked admiration from this writer. She reserved a high degree of respect for her people and language despite her academic and social stature. LOCAL PRODUCTS The earnestness of the Chinese in prioritising their culture, traditions and work can be seen in how they use ceramic and porcelain designs as decorations around the country. Aside from Jingdezhen, other Chinese provinces and districts also promote ceramics and porcelain. We stayed in nine hotels in different cities and provinces during the 10-day programme and found that ceramic and porcelain are not only used as décor but as serving utensils at the hotels as well. The hotel lobbies also tend to feature ceramic and porcelain pieces that refer to China’s ancient history and dynasties. The companies and organisations we visited also served Chinese tea in local porcelain mugs. FITNESS ACTIVITIES Throughout the trip, this writer could not help but notice how the Chinese, regardless of age, like to engage in fitness activities like walking, cycling and even mountain climbing. Perhaps many of them have a high fitness level because they are used to walking great distances to get to desired destinations. For example, while in Jiujiang city, we were given the opportunity to climb the Lushan Mountain that is known for the Three Tiled Springs, and visit other places of interest within a 350km radius. When we stopped to rest, we noticed a group of elderly women who seemed to effortlessly hike up the mountain. As we stared in amazement, an old man suddenly came and tapped this writer on the shoulder and gestured as if to ask why we stopped there. This writer responded by wiping imaginary sweat on her forehead. The amused gentleman then gestured to her that he was still strong enough to climb to the peak of the mountain despite being 72 years old. This writer could only give a thumbs up in return, impressed by his level of fitness. MAXIMISING ON WEEKENDS The way the Chinese spent their weekends also fascinated this writer. During weekdays they would be battling with work and traffic jams so they use the weekends to reconnect with family members by going out to have fun or head to recreational parks or museums. Families with small children could also be seen at Bada Shanren Museum that weekend we were there. Parents brought their kids to see the historical artefacts and to spend time by the lake outside. While in Nanchang one night during the weekend, we were brought to the city centre to witness the typical scene there. We saw huge crowds of people heading to the city square with their families to watch the colourful lights and water fountain show. What was evident to this writer throughout the trip was that the Chinese took great pains to appreciate their heritage and preserve their identity. It is a lesson that could be emulated by Malaysia as well. -- BERNAMA