STORY: Mexican restaurant owner blends cultures through cuisine
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 16, 2025
DATELINE: Feb. 16, 2025
LENGTH: 00:00:54
LOCATION: TIANJIN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Byron Zarate, founder of a Mexican restaurant in Tianjin, north China
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): Owner of a snack stand
5. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China

STORYLINE:

Byron Zarate, a Mexican expat, arrived in China 14 years ago.

Amazed by China's modernity, he then decided to settle down and founded a Mexican restaurant in Tianjin.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China
"(It was) my first time (in China). I thought I was going to find this kind of houses, the Chinese houses. But after (arriving in China), I found (that there was) too much technology. All the buildings (are) full of lights. The streets are clean. Everything (is) fine. Everyone looks at it (that) China is amazing."

Zarate soon became interested in Chinese cuisine, sometimes drawing inspiration from local street snacks and blending them into his menu.

He hopes to foster cultural exchanges through the fusion of Mexican and Chinese flavors.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China
"I'd like to invite you to my restaurant to taste my food."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): Owner of a snack stand
"OK."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): BYRON ZARATE, Founder of Zii Mexican Bar in Tianjin, China
"Thank you."

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