Anna Samodolova from Russia is now a "new Xi'an local", settling in the city.

"In 2016, I started studying Chinese-English translation in Russia, and it was my first experience learning Chinese." Anna's parents were also very fond of Chinese culture and optimistic about China's development. Therefore, Anna started planning to go to China a long time ago.

In 2019, as an exchange student, Anna came to Heilongjiang International University in Harbin to study Chinese. "It was this learning experience that made me very sure that I wanted to go to China again for a master's degree. In Harbin, I felt that China's economy is developing rapidly, the transportation and other infrastructure are very advanced, and the level of university education is also very high. I think that by studying in China, I will be able to acquire the knowledge I want." Anna said.

In 2020, Anna obtained her HSK(Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi/Chinese Proficiency Test) Level 4 certificate. With a better grasp of the language, she opted for the more challenging major, MBA. In September 2021, Anna began studying for her master's degree at Xi'an Jiaotong University. "The entrepreneurial spirit at the Innovation Port Campus is very strong," she said. "The university invites the heads of startup companies to share their entrepreneurial experiences every week, and officials from relevant government departments will explain support policies for startup business."

"Since I came to XJTU (Xi'an Jiaotong University), many of my Russian friends have asked me about China, Xi'an, its educational philosophy, and its urban development. With my help, several Russian friends came to study in China. Then I started wondering how to introduce Russian brands to the Chinese market through a business model," Anna said. Gradually, she found herself growing more and more interested in starting her own business.

In the spring of 2023, the Science and Technology Bureau of the Xixian New Area and the Qinchuangyuan Qinhan Work Department jointly organized an entrepreneurship workshop for international students at Xi'an Jiaotong University. During the upcoming months, the staff helped Anna streamline her business project, offered suggestions for market-oriented development, translated laws and regulations, guided her through the process of registering the company and handling tax, and provided office space. This January, Anna received the business license for her company, which primarily offers consulting services to foreign nationals worldwide in education, business, and tourism.

"Recently, we signed a cooperation agreement with a large ice cream company in Russia to help them find a partner in Xi'an, and we are actively docking." Anna introduced her company in the office building of Qinchuangyuan's Qinhan Innovation Center. "Although the company is not large at the moment, and I am the only one to run it, but I believe that in the near future, more people will join."

"I've been living in Xi'an for almost three years, and this ancient yet modern city continues to captivate me," Anna says. She chose to stay in Xi'an to work, and the city has long since become her second hometown.