STORY: Vlog: "Ancient yet modern, truly impressive" - A dialogue with foreign tourists in Xi'an
SHOOTING TIME: Recent footage
DATELINE: June 1, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:08
LOCATION: XI'AN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
2. STANDUP 2 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANDREW BAXTER, Tourist
4. STANDUP 3 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREW BAXTER, Tourist
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GREG SLABB, Tourist
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MAUREEN FORD, LINDA RANDALL, Tourists
8. SOUNDBITE 5 (English): DAVID WILLIAMS, Tourist
9. various of Xi'an


STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
"Hi everyone, I'm Xinhua correspondent Wang Jialin. China is seeing an increasing number of foreign tourists. Now I'm in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Today I'm going to explore the ancient city with my foreign friends. Let's go."

In Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, I met a foreign tour group that had just arrived. These tourists were from Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Over the next two weeks, they'll be visiting major Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Lhasa, exploring both cultural and natural attractions, and experiencing the blend of ancient and modern China.

STANDUP 2 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
"You look really fabulous in this traditional Chinese attire."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANDREW BAXTER, Tourist
"Thank you."

STANDUP 3 (English): WANG JIALIN, Xinhua correspondent
"Is this your first time in China?"

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANDREW BAXTER, Tourist
"First time, yeah, because what we were told about China in Australia is different to what I've experienced. (Xi'an) It's a very beautiful city."

Xi'an, the ancient capital was their second stop. As soon as they arrived, they got a taste of traditional Chinese culture. They tried on Hanfu, sampled local food, and strolled around the bustling Grand Tang Mall.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GREG SLABB, Tourist
"It's been great, and it's exciting China's got so much history. It's just been a pleasure to be here and it's far better than what I thought, I was expecting it to be great, and I may come back one day. And now we're talking today about the (ancient) Silk Road, so maybe that would be interesting to see starting here in Xi'an and then going west."

In an early morning, these foreign friends climbed up the ancient Xi'an City Wall, which is a famous cultural landmark with over 600 years of history, to catch the first light of dawn in Xi'an.

SOUNDBITE 4 (English): MAUREEN FORD, LINDA RANDALL, Tourists
"We are very impressed. I do love it, and people are lovely. Very kind."

SOUNDBITE 5 (English): DAVID WILLIAMS, Tourist
"Well good, and we will come back."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xi'an, China.
(XHTV)