Recently, a video of an elder tour guide offering site explanations in Xi'an went viral online. Yang Jian, a 70-year-old senior tour guide, attracted a large number of tourists for his sparkling presentation.

   

Yang Jian's humorous expression and vivid body language made the tourists simmer with laughter

Through the following Q&A, we may understand why Yang Jian loves being a tour guide so much.

Q1: Why are you so passionate about being a tour guide?

Yang Jian: I loved telling stories even when I was a child. Whenever I accessed an interesting story, I would retell it to my friends. Either a child or a working professhional, I often volunteered to offer tour guide to my relatives, friends, classmates, and even friends coming out of town.

But I gradually found that my knowledge base is insufficient, and I must cultivate systematic professional knowledge and skills to continue what I do. So I used my spare time to study and took the national examination for this industry. In 2012, I was certified as a senior tour guide, and there were only around 1,000 senior tour guides in the country.

In 2013, I retired at the age of 60 and became a full-time tour guide. Although exhausting, I enjoyed it for its positivity and benefits for the public.

Q2: What do you think is the core meaning of your work?

Yang Jian: As a native of Xi'an, I love my hometown. I was born and grew up in this place, so I have a deep and loving bond with this ancient city. Xi'an is not only beautiful in natural landscapes but also charming for its cultural sites.

Through my tour guide, I hope that more people can understand Xi'an and appreciate the beauty of this city. I think this is my responsibility as a Xi'an folk and a senior tour guide.

A handwritten thank-you letter from a tourist to Yang Jian

Even in his seventies, Yang Jian gives 8 tour presentations on average per week, and his itinerary covers major tourist attractions in Shaanxi. In addition, he keeps studying 2-3 hours every day. Yang Jian said, "Tour guide is a profession that spreads culture, so I want to ensure that the knowledge explained through me is based on a well-documented historical fact."

In the short future, Yang Jian has another goal —— to obtain the certificate for a Special Tour Guide within two to three years. "It's never too late to learn. We should always maintain a young heart, to learn and to strive in our lives."