My family reunion in China

This Chinese New Year, instead of traveling abroad or flying back home like many other expats in town, I brought my Bolivian-American parents to China for the first time.

Photos by Joshua Fernandez

In Shenzhen, we visited landmarks like the Talent Park in Nanshan District and the Civic Center in Futian. My parents were amazed by the city’s rapid development after learning about its short history.

From Shenzhen, we flew to Beijing — my first time in the Chinese capital too! We visited the Temple of Heaven, the Olympic Stadium, and Qianmen Street, a pedestrian street for shopping and sightseeing that features Qing Dynasty-style architecture on both sides. The city was very cold at this time of year and packed with tourists, but that didn’t stop us from experiencing the best of Beijing.

Next, we traveled to Xi’an, one of China’s ancient capitals, to see how modern China preserves its heritage. My parents took their time exploring the historic sites, fully immersing themselves in the city’s profound history.

We spent the rest of our stay in Xi’an in the Great Tang All Day Mall and the Muslim Quarter, bargaining for souvenirs and trying local snacks. The latter, home to the city’s Hui community, is a great place to wander, especially atmospheric at night.

In just two weeks, my parents experienced both ancient and modern China.

This trip was only a glimpse of a vast and diverse country. I’m already looking forward to planning their next visit. Maybe next Chinese New Year?