Ancient capital rekindles Croatian couple's zest for life

Artist and actress wife inspired by Xi'an's history, culture and teaching roles

When Croatian artist Ivica Simic first arrived in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in 2015, he was instantly enamored by the thousands of years of history on display in the city — embodied by its old city walls and world-famous imperial tombs — and embraced by its residents.

"The very roots of Chinese culture are here, and you can feel it from the earth and feel it so heavily here," he said of a city that was once the capital of 13 ancient Chinese dynasties.

Simic trusted his instincts and decided to move to Xi'an with his wife, Vitomira Loncar, an actress and film producer. But her early impressions of the city were not favorable.

"One day, he was working and told me to walk around a park near our hotel. I came to the edge of the road and there was no traffic light. I stood there and started crying," she said. "It took me nearly an hour to wait to cross the road, and I thought, how do I tell him I cannot survive in this city."

Eight years later, the couple are now both professors at Xi'an Eurasia University. They have long put aside their different opinions about the city and developed strong bonds with Xi'an through teaching students, visiting historical sites or simply strolling around on foot or exploring by bus.

"This is our home now. This is where we live, and we feel we belong here," Simic said.

At 70, he teaches theater and performing arts for children and young people at the university's Humanities and Education School. Before moving to Xi'an, he had performed and directed children's theater in his home country, as well as the United States, Russia, Romania and Germany.

In Xi'an, one of his most significant and emotional artistic moments stemmed from an encounter with local farm workers.

"I was walking around a cultural center where there is a little outdoor theater among other buildings, and a group of local farmers was playing music with traditional instruments," he said. "I was the only audience member, alone in that big outdoor space.

"At the time, I was in a not-so-good period of my life, feeling like I'd lost my passion and interest. These farmers were playing so passionately, and I was watching this man, thinking that I used to be a man with such a passion," he said.

Tears welled up in his eyes as Simic reminisced about the moment. "After the performance finished, I walked up to the man, hugged him and cried, and he was comforting me, saying in Chinese 'don't worry, my brother', my interpreter told me.

"This man was a big inspiration for me. His teeth were all dark due to smoking, and he dressed in worn clothing. But he was so full of life and happiness, enjoying music and singing," he said.

Despite a bumpy start, Loncar said her fascination with the city began with countless rides on public buses across the metropolis and multiple visits to the famed Terracotta Warriors on its outskirts.

"I took a bus from this side to that side of the city, and the next day, I would get on another bus," she said. "Today, I am an expert on Xi'an buses."

Loncar said she has visited Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum 13 times.

"I want to show the Terracotta Warriors to everyone — my students, my friends from Croatia — and tell them stories of the place and help them discover the history. Last week, I was there again on my own and every time I always find something different," she said.

At Xi'an Eurasia University, Loncar teaches intercultural communication and project management. Even at the age of 64, she said one particular student has enriched her life.

"The student grew up as a left-behind child in a village. When she first met me in the office, she said that she wanted to tell me something, but could not do so because her English was so poor," Loncar said.

Gradually, both the girl's confidence level and English proficiency began to grow. "She learned English because she wanted to tell her story to me, and she wrote a message to me recently, saying that she is now studying abroad, speaking English and thanked me for changing her life," Loncar said.

"I told my husband that if I came here to China only to change her life, it was worth it."

The duo said they draw strength from the sense of being needed in Xi'an and the university.

"We are really grateful because we have a feeling that we are needed here. Our students need us and we can contribute to Chinese society, culture, education and overall Chinese development with our expertise, knowledge and personalities," Simic said.