2024 Ambassadors' Wives' Trip to Xi'an, Zhouzhi County

The 2024 Ambassadors' Wives' Trip to Xi'an, themed "A New Journey on the Silk Road Connects Xi'an to the World," kicked off on the evening of September 8 in Zhouzhi County. The wives of ambassadors to China from Cabo Verde, Comoros, Latvia, Lesotho, Mauritius, Micronesia, North Macedonia, Tajikistan, and Vanuatu all got a glimpse into the unique history of the Silk Road.

Opening ceremony

Posing for a group photo on Zhouzhi Water Street

After the opening ceremony, the ambassador's wives visited the embodiment of the charm of the millennium-old city of Xi'an, Zhouzhi Water Street, known as the "Venice of Shaanxi."

"The lights here are so beautiful, and the houses along the street have a primitive simplicity that really appeals to me," said Ssiata Ahamed Mbae Ep Charif, the wife of the ambassador from Comoros, pausing frequently along the street to photograph the nighttime scenery.

Trying delicacies on Zhouzhi Water Street

On September 9, the ambassadors’ wives visited the Qinling National Botanical Garden in Zhouzhi County, Xi'an, where they had the opportunity to explore this acclaimed "biological gene bank."

Posing for a group photo at Qinling National Botanical Garden

Duan Junli (second from left), Mayor of Zhouzhi County, showing ambassadors' wives local kiwifruit

After touring the Qinling National Botanical Garden, the ambassadors' wives were taken to Zhouyi Village in Louguan Town, Zhouzhi County, to learn more about the development of the modern agricultural industry chain in the county. Mayor of Zhouzhi County Duan Junli spoke about the health benefits of the kiwifruit of Zhouzhi and what made the fruit so important environmentally and culturally.

Picking kiwifruit

After learning about the unique qualities of the kiwifruit of Zhouzhi, the ambassador's wives were given a chance to taste some, picking fruit themselves, visiting the fruit sorting and packaging workshop, and learning about e-commerce promotions as they interacted with the growers and workers.

Wife of the ambassador from Mauritius Mary-Ann Jenny Wong Yen Cheong said, "I always thought kiwifruit originated from New Zealand. Now I know that it's actually from China and was originally known as Chinese gooseberry. And Zhouzhi County is the heartland of kiwifruit and produces fruit that is not only delicious but also highly nutritious."

Showing off the kiwifruit they picked