Build bridges between China and India

Deng Fuxin, from Mianyang, Sichuan province, studied Hindi for three years at the Communication University of China. Yet, when she first arrived in India last October, she was still amazed by the unexpected warmth and connection she experienced there.

Upon her arrival, the 20-year-old and her companions were cautious, sticking together when going out due to their unfamiliarity with the area. However, the kindness of the locals quickly eased their worries.

"An elderly tuk-tuk driver couldn't find the hotel we were looking for, so he drove us around asking for directions. In the end, he only charged us a small fare," she recalled.

The convenience of life in India also far exceeded her expectations. "The competition among delivery and takeaway apps is so fierce here that food can arrive just 8 or 9 minutes after ordering," Deng said.

To her, Chinese and Indian cultures share a delightful resonance. She noticed that India's "chai culture" is quite like Sichuan's teahouse culture.

"Elderly men sell chai (a tea-like beverage with a mix of spices) on the streets for 10 rupees ($0.12) a cup, roughly 0.8 yuan. It's almost like a national addiction — everyone here drinks several cups a day," Deng explained. "The difference is that Indians drink chai anytime, anywhere, while people in Sichuan prefer to gather in teahouses."

The culinary similarities surprised her even more. Indian momos are almost identical to Chinese dumplings, and a popular meat curry in India tastes very similar to China's braised dishes.

"Many of my Indian friends are very interested in Chinese cuisine and love foods like Chinese buns and fried noodles. I also noticed that Indian dishes appeal to many Chinese people as well," she said.

Both countries also share a deep appreciation for tradition. Deng observed that Indian girls typically wear saris on special occasions, and many from the older generation wear them regularly. There is also a growing curiosity about hanfu (traditional Chinese attire).

"Some Indian girls at our school even transformed their saris into mamianqun (horse-face skirts) to perform at the school's Chinese New Year gala," Deng recalled.

Creating connections

What impressed Deng the most was the deep understanding that Indian young people have of China.

"Many of my Indian classmates can accurately name several of China's major cities and top universities. They even have Weibo accounts where they discuss trending topics. They also follow Chinese films, animations, and games," she explained.

For example, one Indian student's master's thesis focused on the popular Chinese game Black Myth: Wukong. With China's hit animated film Ne Zha 2 set to release in India on April 25, she and several Indian schoolmates have already made plans to watch it together.

In Deng's view, the openness of the younger generation in both countries is key to breaking down barriers.

"The lives they share on social media are not so different from ours — we both enjoy dressing up, taking photos, and playing games," she said. "Many young people in India have a very friendly attitude toward China and even hope to study in China in the future."

According to Deng, while misunderstandings may have existed in the past, today's youth prefer to replace prejudice with curiosity.

During an interview with her Indian classmates, she asked them to respond to common stereotypes that Chinese people have about India. Initially worried it might be offensive, she was relieved when everyone spoke openly, "just like friends chatting naturally", she said.

"Friendship among youth is truly pure. The young people I've met from both countries all have positive attitudes toward one another. We are breaking down information barriers, which shows the limitless possibilities of people-to-people exchanges," she added.