At 34, Yuan Xilin works as a ticket attendant at a Sichuan Opera theater in Chengdu, where he checks tickets, welcomes visitors and helps audiences find their way into the theater.

 

Yuan Xilin records a short video introduction before the Sichuan Opera theater opens to guests in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

 

As Chengdu of southwest China's Sichuan Province attracts growing numbers of international visitors interested in traditional Chinese opera and Sichuan Opera, Yuan meets dozens of overseas tourists every day. Hoping to make them feel more at ease, he began learning simple greetings in different languages so he could welcome them in their native tongue.

 

Yuan Xilin (1st R) checks tickets and guides tourists from Italy into a Sichuan Opera theater in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

 

Yuan's interest in languages began in high school, when he came across a booklet introducing several foreign languages. Drawn to the rhythm of Spanish music and the sound of classical guitar, he developed a particular interest in Spanish.

 

Yuan Xilin (1st R) talks with Dutch tourists at a Sichuan opera theater in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

 

As China's visa-free transit and other travel facilitation policies have brought more international visitors to the country, Yuan has expanded his language skills from English and Spanish to Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, Polish and more. What once began with a simple greeting has gradually grown into brief conversations about visitors' experiences in China and introductions to Chengdu's local culture.

 

Sichuan Opera performers perform face-changing on stage in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

 

For Yuan, language is a bridge between cultures. He believes that even a simple greeting in a visitor's native language can make them feel welcome while creating opportunities for cultural exchange and his own personal growth.

 

Edited by Zhang Yuanlin

Source: Xinhua