Q: What was your previous impression of China before coming here? And how do you feel now?
Adolf: My impression of China was mainly shaped by documentaries, movies, books and cartoons I watched or read when I was younger. I was first fascinated by Chinese culture when I watched the Disney animation Mulan as a child. The costumes were exotic and the martial arts were incredible. So I always had an image of a mysterious country with a rich history.
With the huge economic and infrastructural improvements over the last few decades in China, quite a lot of cities are now super modern and huge. Nevertheless, they are still rich in history and a lot of culture can be found, especially in the countryside.
Germany also has some provinces but they belong to the same minority, so their culture has just a little difference. It's simply magical, and to think there are 56 ethnic groups in the country. I am stunned by the diversity in costumes, dialects, food and celebrations among the different ethnic villages.