Laurence Brahm: American scholar's 37-year experience in China

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China's 40 years of reform and opening-up hasn't only transformed the fate of Chinese people; many foreigners with a connection to the country, have also seen the direction of their life change. American scholar Laurence Brahm has been living in China for 37 years. And here is his story!

American, Laurence Brahm is a writer, lawyer and film-maker. In December, he published a new book series, called Searching for China, in which he explores Chinese culture.

His previous publications include "China's Century: The Awakening of the Next Economic Powerhouse", and "China as No. 1".

Now, he's turning his attention to a particular Chinese region – Tibet.

LAURENCE BRAHM LAWYER, WRITER, FILMMAKER "I am going to make a new film specializing in extreme Himalayan expeditions, focusing on stories in China, India and Nepal. And I also plan to write a series of books on Himalayan expeditions."

Laurence Brahm has spent much of the past 37 years living and working in China, having first come to the country as an exchange student in June 1981.

After completing his studies at Nankai University, Brahm headed to Hong Kong, to continue studying law and Chinese. In Hong Kong, he joined a law firm. In 1983, he came to Beijing, when his company set up an office in the city. With China opening its doors to the world, Brahm found he had a stage for displaying his unique expertise.

LAURENCE BRAHM LAWYER, WRITER, FILM-MAKER "My first experience in China was as a lawyer. My job was to help foreign investment come to China. Many companies intended to invest in China at that time."

With time, he became more closely involved in economic cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies.

But he always maintained an interest in Chinese traditional culture. He believed he could develop a more intimate understanding of the Chinese people's lives – the highs and lows – by becoming better integrated into the local community. So, he moved to a courtyard house in Beijing.

LAURENCE BRAHM LAWYER, WRITER, FILM-MAKER "Architecture is the dialogue between human beings and their culture. To protect culture, the first is to protect language, and the second is to protect architecture."

In 1933, the British-American writer James Hilton published a novel called Lost Horizon. So powerful was his description of the natural beauty of 'Shangri-la', that many explorers, poets and writers set out to look for it. Laurence Brahm also embarked on a journey in search of Shangri-la.

LAURENCE BRAHM LAWYER, WRITER, FILM-MAKER "In 2002, I went to the west of China to shoot the film 'Searching for Shangri-la'. I began to know a lot about the culture of China's ethnic minorities."

He hiked through Tibet Autonomous Region, and Qinghai and Yunnan Provinces, interviewing artists, dancers, musicians, fashion designers, writers, pop singers, environmentalists and herders.

He says they changed his view of China. He began to realize that Shangri-la was not only a place, but also an idea. He could find the real Shangri-la through giving and doing good deeds for others.

LAURENCE BRAHM LAWYER, WRITER, FILM-MAKER "For example, we do things for the disabled, and set up workshops for them to learn skills. I recently set up a medical center in Qinghai Province and provide cheap medical services."

Laurence Brahm says China is his home. He has many more projects he plans to work on in China, and he also wants to help more people learn about China.