Local Iranians admire my Chinese language skills: Iranian Chinese tour guide

Local people greet Xinhua's reporting team. (Xinhua/Liu Hongde)

An increasing number of Iranian families are recognizing the importance of teaching their children Chinese from a young age as Iran is facing a shortage of Chinese teachers.

TEHRAN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tehran, the bustling capital of Iran, is a city brimming with vibrancy. On a reporting journey on the theme of "Chasing Dreams Along the Belt and Road," we came to Tehran to explore the benefits China's Belt and Road Initiative has brought to this city.

Greatly impressed by the warmth and friendliness of the local people during our trip in Tehran, we had the chance to meet those who have a special bond with China.

When I first encountered Saman Mohammadian, she was giving a tour of the Tomb of Ferdowsi, the mausoleum of the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi, to a group of Chinese tourists.

The 28-year-old native, who works as a Chinese tour guide in the region, told us that she had started learning Chinese at Shahid Beheshti University in Iran 10 years ago.

Saman Mohammadian gives visitors a tour of the poet Ferdowsi's mausoleum in Tehran, the capital of Iran. (Xinhua/Liu Hongde)

"China had just proposed the Belt and Road Initiative at that time. After a decade, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Iran has steadily increased," said Mohammadian.

Recalling the days when she first learned Chinese, she said, "Back then, far fewer people in Iran understood China and the Chinese language. Sometimes, while I was doing my homework on a bus, many people would approach and inquire about the script, and ask questions like if Chinese really is a difficult language to learn."

In just a short span of 10 years, the changes are evident. "Now, Iranians are well aware of China's rapid development, and various Chinese products are popular here," Mohammadian said. "When they discover that I've learned Chinese, they admire me and consider me accomplished. My family is also pleased because of my steadily increasing income as a Chinese tour guide over the years."

Mohammadian told me that an increasing number of Iranian families are recognizing the importance of teaching their children Chinese from a young age as Iran is facing a shortage of Chinese teachers.

"I'm currently teaching Chinese to three Iranian children. I consider myself fortunate to be engaged in work related to cultural exchange between two ancient civilizations. As a Chinese tour guide, I'm also delighted to see that I'm getting busier, and my income is on the rise," she added.■