China News Service, Xi'an, July 10th, title: "Wish List" of India's "Old Shaan": "Civil and military training" to build a bridge of cultural exchanges
Author Zhang Yichen Yang Yingqi
"Xuan Zang was the first Chinese I knew, and Bruce Lee's kung fu made me yearn for China." Recalling the connection with Chinese culture, "Old Shaan" from India, Defu, said frankly that he had never been a young man at the time. I thought that I would set off from India for Chang'an because of the "Kung Fu Dream" in the future.
Telford operates four Indian restaurants in Xi'an.
"I used to think that every Chinese has long hair and knows how to martial arts, but when I came to China, I found that this was not the case at all." Telford said with a smile.
16 years ago, when he first set foot on the land of China, he soon found that his knowledge of China was obviously insufficient.
Therefore, when he was promoted from a hotel waiter to a restaurant manager and had enough savings, "opening an Indian restaurant in China for cultural exchange" became a must on his "wish list".
The picture shows customers dining at the Indian restaurant opened by Telford.
Photo by Zhang Yichen
After visiting all parts of China, Telford finally settled its first cultural exchange restaurant in Chang'an, the departure place of Xuanzang's westbound trip.
"I think foreigners must start in Xi'an if they want to understand China, because this is the place that best represents Chinese culture." Telford said that as soon as he arrived in Xi'an, he was attracted by its rich history and culture.
As the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, the city of Xi'an has a special cultural significance for Telford. His first restaurant in Xi'an was opened in the Silk Road Style Street of West City in Datang.
He said that, like Xi'an, a city with rich historical and cultural heritage and full of modern elements is exactly the entrepreneurial environment he needs.
In order to realize the original intention of cultural exchanges, Telford’s restaurants strive to highlight the “Indian style” from the decoration to the staff.
In addition, he also regularly organizes and plans themed cultural activities, such as experiencing Indian dress "Sari", Indian flying cake teaching, etc. The customers come here in an endless stream, and often "one is hard to find".
With the development of the mobile Internet, the integration between social platforms and catering has become increasingly close, and "net celebrity restaurants" have emerged one after another.
Telford has its own understanding of this.
"Unlike some'net celebrity restaurants', cultural connotation is our core element. I believe that under the background of cultural exchanges and communication, the restaurant will operate for a longer period of time."
For Telford, who is "mainly engaged in catering", another option on his "wish list" has also become more and more within reach after coming to China.
On the wall of the restaurant, posters of film and television works that Telford participated in after coming to China were hung.
"My'movie dream' originated from the Kung Fu superstar Bruce Lee." Telford believes that movies and TV dramas are important channels for cultural output. The works of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan that are popular in India, and the "Three Fools in Baolai" talked about by Chinese movie fans. "Wrestling" "Wrestling!"
"Dad" and other Indian movies have made him have a lot of common topics when chatting with his Chinese friends.
Today, Telford has operated a number of restaurants in Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen and other places. He told a reporter from China News Agency that in the future he intends to open a Chinese cultural exchange restaurant in India, the name is "Great Wall", and he hopes to create a " He wanted to set up a private room with Chinese tea culture style and provide Indian guests with calligraphy experience and Hanfu experience.
"It is not only my social responsibility to let more Indian friends understand the real China, it is also what I want to do most now." Telford said frankly.
(Finish)