Eternal Love : American embraces China via protected courtyards
Updated 17:14, 12-Sep-2019
Thanks Hui'ao and Erica. Now let's turn to the Ethnic groups here in Dali, where the beautiful scenery and ethnic culture are helping attract a growing number of outsiders from all over the world. One of them is American Brian Linden, who transformed a centuries-old courtyard in a village into a hotel-style cultural center. His goal is to deepen and enrich people's understanding of China. Yang Jinghao has the story.
BRIAN LINDEN FOUNDER OF LINDEN CENTER "I am Brian Linden. I was born and raised in Chicago. I came to China for the first time in 1984. I have a series of cultural retreats in Yunnan. They are called the Linden Center. We really wanted to emphasize that we're much more than a hotel. I think our goal was to use the existing culture as a way for visitors to have a deeper experience and interaction with China. The courtyard itself is a beautiful 1940s structure that was built by one of the wealthiest men here in Dali. The goal was to not impact, not change any aspect of the physical appearance. This project is a dream for me. I love doing it. The benefits for me go far beyond monetary. And what I want to do is ensure that those in the village can also benefit from the successes we have."
BRIAN LINDEN FOUNDER OF LINDEN CENTER "We hope to expand into project places where there's a need for this kind of interaction in the community and the education programs. I admire China so much for its willingness to invest in the future, there is optimism here. We felt safe here, we felt welcomed, and that even includes the government. The government was so hospitable and so open to our ideas. I hope that I can stay here as long as I can be active and passionate. And I believe we can do so much more now. And I hope that someday maybe my children will want to come back as well and carry on."