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International Love in Bloom
The sun is still warm in Sanya, a beautiful coastal city in South China's Hainan Province.
One morning last month, Dong Xia got ready as quickly as possible to join her Russian husband Andre Ivanov and their daughter Anna Dong on a visit to the Sanya Oriental Grand Hotel.
Dong got married three years ago in Sanya. On the morning in question, the couple were special guests at the fifth Sanya International Wedding Festival.
Over 200 newlyweds and couples commemorating their anniversaries gathered at Tianyahaijiao (the uttermost part of the earth), the most famous tourist resort in Sanya. The coconut trees swayed in the wind against an azure sky melting into the peaceful sea.
Dong and her family immediately caught the attention of the reporters and the other people at the gathering.
Working in a tourism company, Dong Xia is gifted with a natural elegance. She speaks quickly but clearly.
"I got to know Andre while I was working in Moscow four years ago," said Dong, 32. "He is a talented man who knows how to love. He loves China and especially Sanya, that's why we held our wedding here. Our daughter was also born here."
Dong studied Sports Medicine and Nutriology at the Beijing Sports Institute. Upon graduation, she became a teacher at the Sports Institute of Tianjin. In the six years she spent there, she also worked as a doctor of a national sports team.
At 28, she went to work in Russia and met Ivanov, who fell in love with her at first sight. After a romantic year, they chose Sanya for their wedding. They stayed on and soon after "plunged into the commercial sea" to run their own business. Dong is now the general manager of the Sanya Peace Travel Company, which she runs with her husband.
"It was my dream to marry a Chinese woman," said Ivanov in fluent Chinese.
Born in Moscow and a graduate of Moscow University, Ivanov has been interested in China since he was a boy and has conducted extensive research into Chinese history and culture.
"When I met Dong Xia, I told myself she was the girl of my dreams. I had to marry her to make my dream come true," said Ivanov happily. "Our daughter Anna is three now, I hope we can have a son soon."
Although Ivanov has visited many places in China, his favourite spot has never changed. The pure and unpolluted environment of Sanya fascinates him deeply, and he feels at home there.
At first, Ivanov mainly helped Russian tourists come to Sanya. He has now widened his scope and also attracts visitors from some northern European countries. Most tourists are full of praise for Sanya when they come. But Ivanov is unsatisfied. "Forgive my frankness, Sanya is a city with a good future, but its development is too slow."
Ivanov is eager to see a good library in the small city. Once the library is completed, he plans to donate a great deal of books about Russian culture.
"I also want to set up a Russian culture centre to strengthen the relationship between the two countries," Ivanov said.
Wiping away the sweat on his brow, he added: "My biggest plan right now is to advise the organizers of the festival to set up an awning. It's too sunny and the couples will feel uncomfortable without some shade."
A popular Chinese song reverberated over the silvery sand of the beach - "I want you to accompany me to the ends of the Earth." For the couples gathered in Tianyahaijiao, the sentiment of this song has become a reality.
"Mankind's love is eternal and without national borders," said Dong.
(www.chinadaily.com.cn)
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