At the Foot of the Qinling Mountains: "She Sees" Zhouzhi in Full Bloom

On September 8, spouses of ambassadors to China from Turkmenistan, Yemen, Senegal, Latvia, Vietnam and other countries visited Zhouzhi for an immersive journey exploring its ecology, industries, culture and friendship.

Spouses of foreign ambassadors pose for a group photo holding Zhouzhi brown giant panda plush toys.

At the Qinling Four Rare Animals Science Park, giant pandas doze among the bamboo, crested ibises skim across the water, golden snub-nosed monkeys swing through the branches, and takins stand steadily on the slopes. In their most natural state, the "Four Rare Animals of Qinling" welcome guests from afar.

At the Qinling National Botanical Garden, the "Green Classroom" goes beyond sightseeing to encourage exploration and discovery. Through displays and activities on germplasm conservation, specimens, ex situ conservation, and science education and study programs, the spouses of foreign ambassadors learned that the botanical garden serves as an important research platform for protecting plant diversity in China. Ecological conservation is not about fencing nature off, but about preserving the conditions for all living things to thrive—a philosophy that won frequent nods of approval from the visitors.

Spouses of foreign ambassadors visit the Qinling National Botanical Garden.

At the foot of the Qinling Mountains, the standardized kiwifruit cultivation demonstration base in Zhouyi Village is laden with fruit beneath its trellises.

Zhouzhi has 432,000 mu of land devoted to kiwifruit cultivation, producing nearly 600,000 tons of fresh fruit annually. The industry generates more than 10 billion yuan in total output value each year, helping increase the incomes of 86,000 households and 320,000 people. In key production areas, annual per capita income has exceeded 23,000 yuan. As a nationally protected geographical indication product, Zhouzhi kiwifruit is also included in the China-EU list of mutually recognized geographical indication products and is exported to 26 countries, serving as a "golden key" to rural revitalization.

Hoàng Thị Hương Giang, spouse of the Vietnamese ambassador to China, hangs a nameplate on the kiwifruit tree she adopted.

In Zhouyi Village, the spouses of foreign ambassadors sampled a range of kiwifruit products, including fresh fruit, dried fruit, juice and wine. They learned about kiwifruit cultivation and the development of the industry, and listened as the village head explained the economics of a single fruit tree. They then visited the orchard to pick fruit themselves, experience the joy of the harvest, and "adopt" kiwifruit trees, attaching nameplates to their "friendship trees."

Hoàng Thị Hương Giang, spouse of the Vietnamese ambassador to China, said she looked forward to sharing with her family the "sweetness from the Qinling Mountains and Zhouzhi" when the fruit ripens.

Zhouzhi Promotion Event of the 2026 Xi'an Sharing Session for Spouses of Foreign Ambassadors

At the subsequent Zhouzhi Promotion Event of the 2026 Xi'an Sharing Session for Spouses of Foreign Ambassadors, premium agricultural products and ecocultural tourism resources from the Qinling region took center stage. Rather than being a one-way promotional event, it became a platform for genuine two-way exchange. As they sampled the products and explored the offerings, the spouses of foreign ambassadors shared insights into the agricultural strengths and cultural traditions of their respective countries. The conversation ranged from kiwifruit to fruit industry standards, and from cultural and tourism resources to the exchange of visitors. What began as a county-level promotional event took on a distinctly international character.

Spouses of foreign ambassadors visit Zhouzhi Water Street.

As night fell, Zhouzhi Water Street came alive with lights. Along its bustling lanes, Guanzhong folk culture unfolded in vivid form—the steam rising from snack stalls, the masterful skills of veteran performers, and the lively atmosphere of immersive theaters. Amid these vibrant street scenes, the spouses of foreign ambassadors gained a deeper appreciation of the Guanzhong way of life and witnessed Zhouzhi's dynamic integration of culture and tourism.

In Zhouzhi, all things flourish amid its mountains, rivers and urban landscapes. Today, Zhouzhi is transforming into a multifaceted hub built around ecology, culture, industry and openness. Through the eyes of the spouses of foreign ambassadors, its landscapes, industries and warm hospitality have gained fresh international exposure, raising Zhouzhi's global profile and opening up new opportunities for cooperation in cultural tourism, agriculture, the green economy and other fields.