As families across Asia gathered for Lunar New Year reunions this month, one South African expatriate’s journey to Chengdu highlighted the festival’s enduring emphasis on kinship—and Sichuan’s iconic culinary and cultural charms.
Dale, a 20-something kindergarten teacher from Durban, began his career in the Chinese mainland’s Sichuan Province in early 2024. Two years later, his cousin—a Beijing-based media professional—traveled southwest in February 2026 to reconnect during the holiday period, armed with an air fryer and familial devotion.
"I wanted to ensure Dale had comforts from home while embracing Chengdu’s vibrant culture," the cousin told KhabarAsia. Their reunion unfolded amid steaming hotpot banquets and visits to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, blending familial warmth with quintessential local experiences.
The story mirrors broader 2026 trends showing increased cultural and professional exchanges between Asia and African nations. Chengdu’s mix of economic dynamism, UNESCO-listed gastronomy, and conservation efforts continues attracting global talent—a narrative resonating with diaspora communities and professionals eyeing China’s inland development.
