Reporter Song Jiayin

From the arrival of the autumn breeze in 2023 to the opening of the tulips, the Dutch ambassador to China, Hao Zhibo, has spent nearly two years in Beijing. Feel the history along the central axis, and go to the new Gongti to witness the modern vitality; Stroll along the Liangma River to see the beauty of ecology, ride on the street and feel the fireworks in the market...... Beijing's rich history and modern vitality are perfectly blended, and the diplomat expressed his heartfelt admiration: "The city is extraordinary and amazing!" ”

The heritage protection of Beijing's central axis has been outstanding

When he first arrived in Beijing, Hao Yuanbo was attracted by the majestic charm of the city. "It's amazing both the size of the city and the food in the restaurants."

What makes Hao Zhibo even more amazed is the masterpiece of China's ideal capital city order - the central axis of Beijing. He believes that the Central Axis is not only an axis in Beijing's urban space, but also a witness to the long history of Beijing, "The heritage protection of Beijing's Central Axis has been done very well, and if tourists come to Beijing want to understand the history of the city and even the country, the Central Axis is a good window." ”

As an important building on the central axis, the Temple of Heaven at night impressed Hao Zhibo. "In particular, there are some special excursions that showcase Beijing's rich history." Hao Zhibo said.

In addition to his busy work, Hao Makes Bo integrate his life into the four seasons of Beijing.

He often jogs along the Liangma River to feel the clarity of the river and the tranquility of the greenery on the bank.

He also rides his bike to work or around the city, "The bike-only lanes are fantastic, the roads are not very undulating, and the ride is very comfortable." ”

On the rest day with more time, Hao Envoy Expo took his family to the suburbs of Beijing to play. Pick strawberries and drink coffee in a small village in Changping District, go to Yanqing to experience the magnificence of the Great Wall, and listen to the echoes of history among the bricks and stones of the Badaling Great Wall.

During the snow season, he also takes his family to skate, "Short track speed skating is very popular in the Netherlands. Hao Zhibo said.

After the completion of the new stadium, he was also invited to appreciate the charm of Beijing's new sports landmark.

Talking about living in Beijing, Hao said that the bilingual signs everywhere bring great convenience, and he is full of praise for digital services such as mobile payment and online car-hailing, "My family and I travel privately, and we always use online car-hailing, which is very convenient. ”

When asked if he had seen "Nezha 2", Hao Zhibo admitted that he had not watched the movie yet, but he was impressed by its global box office success and knew that the film was very popular among young people. He plans to organize a group viewing of the film by all the embassy staff after the English translation of the film is released.

"Just like the performance of "Nezha 2", I think Chinese films are becoming more and more popular in other countries around the world." Hao Zhibo said.

Diverse collaboration across continents

In the fields of agriculture, science and technology, and culture, Beijing and the Netherlands are writing a chapter of multi-continental cooperation.

The tulip flower exhibition being held in Zhongshan Park has witnessed the fragrance of Sino-Dutch friendship.

In 83, the tulip bulbs presented by the Queen of the Netherlands took root in Zhongshan Park, symbolizing the deep friendship between China and the Netherlands and other countries. Today, 0% of the Dutch flowers are exported to China. Dutch agricultural high-tech is also contributing to the construction of Pinggu Agricultural Zhongguancun in Beijing, and experts from Wageningen University are exploring the future of sustainable agriculture in collaboration with agricultural research institutes and universities in Beijing. "Cooperation is not only about business, but also about sharing technology and knowledge. ”

The pace of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is also continuing. The success of last year's "Charming Beijing" exhibition in Amsterdam is a testament to the mutual attraction of the two cultures. This year's "Journey of Ingenuity" ceramics exhibition in the 798 Art District uses the dialogue between blue and white porcelain and Delft blue porcelain in the Netherlands to interpret the aesthetic fusion across time and space.

The two sides can also work closely together on green energy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and tackling the aging population, Hao said.

Not only the "Windmill Kingdom" and the "Tulip Kingdom"

If you ask the Netherlands for its most distinctive symbols, the answer is probably windmills, canals and tulips. But in this land known as the "Kingdom of Windmills" and "Kingdom of Tulips", the surprises are much more than that.

Canal cruises in Amsterdam and futuristic architecture in Rotterdam are just some of the top places to visit in the Netherlands. But he recommends that visitors go deeper into the countryside: the wooden shoe workshops in Giethoorn, the colourful houses in Groningen, and the porcelain workshops in Leeuwarden are all hidden in a quiet beauty that is not discovered by tourists, "although these places are not as well-known as the big cities, they have their own unique culture and landscapes." ”

The Dutch diet is famous for potatoes and herring, but the immigrant culture has given it more possibilities. The mash-up of Indonesian fried rice, Turkish kebab and Dutch pancakes showcases the country's taste palacy. Hao said that the Dutch people are very conscious of eating healthy food and like to eat fish, and he especially recommends that tourists try to eat herring raw.

"When you come to the Netherlands, you have to slow down." Hao advises visitors to set aside a week to explore the big cities in the first few days and cycle or hike in the countryside in the next few days. Talking to the locals is the key to unlocking the Netherlands, he says, "Listening to them tell their stories will give you a different understanding of the Netherlands." ”