Frenchman Hubert at his bistro in Guangdong's Zhuhai city. 

Thanks to China's visa-free policy and optimized transit visa exemptions, the number of foreign visitors to China during this year's Spring Festival increased by 150 percent compared to 2024, reaching a record high, according to recent data from third-party platforms.

Hubert, a Frenchman, has celebrated over ten Spring Festivals in China. This Spring Festival, he traveled to several cities in Guangdong with his family and his wife's relatives from Beijing. They visited Kaiping Diaolou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoyed delicious Cantonese cuisine in Zhongshan and Foshan. On Lantern Festival, he cooked a pot of tangyuan at his bistro in Zhuhai, celebrating the festival with his wife and his staff. He later told his friends, "You must come to China for the Chinese New Year sometime. It's even more fun than you can imagine!"

Hubert serves the first bowl of tangyuan to his wife Yangji at his bistro in Zhuhai city, Guangdong, on Feb 12, the Lantern Festival day.

From internship to settling down in China

Hubert first came to Beijing for an internship in 2006. After the six-month internship, he traveled around China with friends, then cycled from Chengdu back to Paris, a journey that took nearly a year. But just a month after returning to France, he found himself missing the life in China and bought a ticket to return. He has lived in China ever since.

When did he fall in love with China? Asked by Guangzhou Daily, Hubert couldn't pinpoint the exact moment, as it had been more of a gradual process. He recalled standing on a friend's balcony on Chinese New Year's Eve in 2007, watching fireworks light up the sky and listening to the crackle of firecrackers amidst a sea of red confetti. Deeply moved by the vibrant and festive atmosphere, he began to realize that it was the kindness of ordinary Chinese people and the peaceful life here that had given him a sense of belonging. He often told his family back in France, "Come visit China more often. It's truly amazing!"

Happy life and work in Zhuhai

Hubert met his Chinese wife Yangji during their time living in a Beijing hutong. Their connection with Guangdong's Zhuhai began five years ago when Hubert came to the city for an engineering project. He was pleasantly surprised to find that this coastal city was both livable and conducive to business. He and his wife decided to move to Zhuhai.

Zhuhai's proximity to the sea made Hubert feel at home, as he had always loved the ocean since childhood. Two years ago, Hubert and Yangji opened a French-style craft beer bistro along the seaside Lover's Road. Speaking fluent Mandarin, he has become friends with many regular patrons.

Hubert enjoys tangyuan with his wife Yangji  (front left) and his bistro staff in Zhuhai city, Guangdong, on Feb 12, the Lantern Festival day.

Today, the bistro has gained a reputation for its craft beer and authentic French cuisine. While business is thriving, their life is also fulfilling with two children. In the five years in Zhuhai, Hubert has fully experienced the openness and inclusiveness of this coastal city.“Working and living in Zhuhai makes me feel relaxing and comfortable,”he said.

His love for Cantonese culture

On February 12, the Lantern Festival day, Hubert and Yangji participated in their children's school celebration, where Hubert watched a lion dance performance up close for the first time and was thoroughly impressed. He announced at the bistro that he would invite a lion dance team to perform next Spring Festival, and Yangji smiled in agreement.

Hubert's love for Cantonese culture is one of the reasons he chose to settle in the Greater Bay Area. This Spring Festival, he visited Kaiping for the first time with his family and relatives to see the diaolou (watchtowers), marveling at the fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles. He also took them to Foshan and Zhongshan to enjoy local delicacies like rice noodle rolls and clay pot rice. He suddenly realized that he had become so familiar with Cantonese cuisine that he felt himself“almost a local.”

Source: Guangzhou Daily
Reporters: Xie Yingjun, Wang Qiqi
Photos: Xie Yingjun, Wang Qiqi
English authors: Lyu Yun, Wen Junhua
Editor: Lyu Yun