STORY: Dutch tourist learns Tai Chi in S China's tourist county
SHOOTING TIME: April 19, 2024
DATELINE: April 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: NANNING, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Yangshuo
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHEN RONGHUA, Homestay owner in Yangshuo
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist

STORYLINE:

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist
"My name is Han Gerretsen. I'm from the Netherlands. It's my third trip to China. This is the first time I'm here (Yangshuo) in this beautiful area. Our agent in the Netherlands told me that I absolutely have to visit this area because it is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. I've made a lot of trips here by e-bike and walking around. Today, I'll have my first Tai Chi lesson and I'm looking very, very forward to it, to learn it from a real master of Tai Chi."

In a family trip to China this April, the Gerretsens chose Yangshuo as their last stop.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist
"It's a lot (of) controlling your body. I've learned three special things. Yeah, your hips are important and your shoulders and your elbows. When I'm back in the Netherlands, I want to do this. So it was a surprise that we can practice it here. Here in this surrounding, with the mountains, and a real master. It's different than when you do it at home."

Chen Ronghua, a homestay owner, has been promoting Tai Chi culture to foreign tourists for years.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHEN RONGHUA, Homestay owner in Yangshuo
"We've been doing tour guiding for many years. Tourism has been developing, including hotel business, restaurant business and scenic spots are getting more and more (popular).
About 90 percent of our customers are Westerners. So, (when) the foreigners come to visit here, they can enjoy both the scenery and also the culture."

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): HAN GERRETSEN, Dutch tourist
"Everyone is very friendly. And we see a lot of beautiful things. It's clean. The air is healthy. And it all looks clear and nice. I've seen a lot of places in Europe and outside Europe, and this place is unique."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nanning, China.
(XHTV)