Tehran – In September I realized I was on a plane to China again. This is my third visit to this vast country. This time, the opportunity was at the Belt and Road 2025 Media Cooperation Forum held in Yunnan Province, which has been at the crossroads of civilization for over 2,400 years. Once a significant stop on the Southern Silk Road, Yunnan seemed like the perfect option for such gatherings. This event is politely hosted by People’s Daily, and its warm hospitality deserves special recognition.
I had previously travelled to Guangzhou and Xinjiang, but Yunnan was different. It was raw, lush and fascinating. Sometimes, as I wandered through the scenery, I felt as if I had been transported to the depths of the Amazon rainforest.
Kunming: Gateway to the Plateau
The first two days of the forum – September 16th and 17th were filled with meetings and events in Kunming, the capital of the province. But once the session was over, our real journey began. It’s a whirlwind of visiting, discovering, and encounters.
We started with Lake Dianiki, the “shining pearl of a plateau.” Spanning 300 square kilometers, city residents come every day to escape the noise of modern life, embrace nature and breathe the tranquility. Standing on that shore, people feel small and renewed.
There we met a young man named Midorida. He returned to the Yunnan countryside with his wife, leaving behind years of success in Paris. In a quiet village, he now runs a modest bakery. And when he shared his story, I couldn’t help but feel this was a kind of homecoming, too.
Sea of flowers
Perhaps Kunming’s most spectacular stop was in exchange for the Flower Market, the heart of China’s flower trade. It is ranked second in the world and sells over 14 billion stems each year.
Inside, the air was perfumed and the colour was overwhelming. I felt like the butterfly had been lost in the sea of petals. Hundreds of young traders sat behind a glittering monitor, selling flowers online in real time to clients around the world. Here, prices bloom and fade in seconds determined by a fast-paced digital auction.
I thought each flower was destined for its own story. Bring a smile to your lover, reconcile old friends, celebrate births, mark achievements, and take a strict rest on the grave. Like humans, flowers carry destiny.
Make your future smarter
From flowers to engines, our journey has moved to Changan Automobile, one of China’s great industrial giants. With the motto “Smart Your Future,” Changan is among the top four automakers in the country, exporting vehicles to nearly 100 countries.
On the avatar production line, the robot arms sway without fatigue, and the sophisticated frames were assembled with mechanical precision. Young workers led the machines and moved steadily along the lines. This was probably the only place where cameras were banned to keep the trade secrets safe. However, one wall revealed the human aspect. It is covered in small handwritten notes that workers share their thoughts and wishes with their manager.
Beyond the highlights: Other visits
Throughout our journey we also visited many other fascinating sites.
Chongqing High-tech Zone, Hydropower Culture Exhibition Hall, Western Science City, Chongqing High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Yunnan Energy Investment Group, Liquid Metal Production Area, Tongquan Wind Farm, Avatar Smart Digital Factory, the world’s largest 5G automotive factory, Xuanwei Museum, Changan Automotive Global R&D Center and Tianshu Intelligent Lab, Shizitan Hydropower Plant, Fishing village of Nylian and more
New friends from all over the world
Apart from exploring the beauty and wealth of China, this trip also had another great advantage. I met new professional friends from all over the world. Journalists from Africa, Europe and several Asian countries have joined us to create opportunities for exchange, cooperation and friendship that I always cherish.
Chinkin: River town
After that, our journey led us to Chongkin. There, I spent two days in a city where I never missed any emotional experience. Its history dates back three thousand years ago, and Jeong-Gin is embraced between the powerful Youngtse and Jairing rivers. At night, the bridge glows with spectacular shows of light, inviting tourists to take photos against the skyline.
During World War II, Chongking served as China’s wartime capital, which increased its importance. Today, like Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, Chungin is directly controlled by the central government and is a sign of its strategic height.
Modern skyscrapers soar to the sides of alleys that have been centuries old. The cities are thriving in contrast. Its vast inland ports become hams in activity and serve as an important hub for the Belt and Road Initiative. In the evening we headed to the Rigiva Monorail station. There, to please the onlookers, the train passes directly past the residential buildings.
Persian poem with Chinese flavor
But beyond epic landmarks and modern wonders, it was the rhythm of everyday life that struck me the most. Every night, despite the fatigue from long walks and countless visits, I ventured. The street market came to life at night, groups gathered on steaming dishes, and laughter echoed through the sidewalks.
At Xuanwei, I came across a wedding. The groom smiled warmly and invited me to their photos. And to my surprise, I discovered that some of their wedding habits reflect those in Iran.
In Kunming, a friend led me to a small halal restaurant. Its owner, an old man named Ibrahim, spoke a bit of Persian and Arabic. He even knew Saadi’s Gristan and Bastan’s poems, and Rumi’s Masnavi. There, Persian poems mix with Chinese hospitality on top of a bowl of steamed noodles.
The human connection at the heart of the belt and the road
On September 25th, my two fellow Iranians and I boarded a flight from Yurmki and returned to Tehran with treasure chest memories. I have realised that China is a country that will never stop surpriseing you.
I looked back at the belt and road initiatives as our plane surged over the snow-capped mountains of New Jiang. The visible layer may be economic and developed, but its true foundation lies in human-cultural connections between nations. And in its mission, the media has a central role – not just like a bridge of information, but as a thread that weaves people and society together.
This trip was more than a visit to China. It reminded me of every city, every company, and every initiative, that it is in the essence of humanity: our shared stories, traditions and dreams.