BEIJING, Aug. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from
People's Daily
My name is Vienna Cammarota. I'm a hiker from Italy. I have been a fan of Italian traveler
Marco Polo since childhood, which
later led me to become a tour guide. Years of hiking have helped me
maintain good health. Even at 75, I still have no need for reading
glasses.
About 20 years ago, my interest in China was sparked by a student from
Beijing who stayed in my home. The
connections we made and the friendships we developed ignited my
curiosity about China.
Following that, I found myself drawn to The Travels of
Marco Polo, reading it over and over
again to understand China through
its vivid descriptions. The depiction of the ancient Silk Road in
the book particularly fascinated me.
In 2018, the idea of retracing the ancient Silk Road came to me,
which inspired me to map out a journey covering 22,000 kilometers
from Venice to Beijing, passing through 15 countries in three
to four years. At first, my children thought it was unrealistic for
me to complete such a long journey in my seventies. However, as
they observed my detailed planning, they came around and gave me
their full support.
More support came from those I had never met before. Upon
conceiving this idea, I published my proposal on the internet in
the hope of securing sponsorship. Shortly after, Zhu Yuhua, president of Associazione Cina-Italia
di Shanghai (ACIS), reached out to
me after seeing the information and expressed his readiness to
offer support. He even planned a detailed itinerary and route and
arranged for a volunteer team especially to assist me - a team that
turned out to be my greatest support during this journey.
My journey began on April 26,
2022, as I departed from Lazzaretto Nuovo island in
Venice, with my family and friends
giving me a warm send-off. My backpack, weighing 16 kilograms,
contained The Travels of Marco Polo,
the Venice city flag, and a
Chinese sachet, among others.
For more than two years, I overcame practical challenges and
psychological pressures, trekked through mountains and waters, and
traversed cities and villages across different countries. Along the
way, I have gained insights into the history, culture, and customs
of each country I visited. As I delved into the remains of the
ancient Silk Road, I was struck by the vast changes our world has
experienced.
As of now, I have traveled through 14 countries, including
Italy, Serbia, Türkiye,
Iran, and Kazakhstan.
At every stop, I engaged in deep conversations with local
people. These interactions not only enhanced my understanding and
appreciation of different ethnic groups and cultures but also
provided me with a more comprehensive and insightful perspective on
the ancient Silk Road.
Whether it was Cinci Han Caravanserai in Safranbolu, Türkiye,
the existing caravanserais in Iran, or the well-preserved historical sites
in Khiva, an ancient city in Uzbekistan - all of these evoked the past
splendor of the ancient Silk Road.
Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping noted, the ancient Silk
Road is a route that greatly boosted the flow of goods, spread of
science and technology, interaction of ideas, and integration of
diverse cultures on the Eurasian continent.
As I journeyed along this historical route, I witnessed that the
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), carrying forward the legacy of the
ancient Silk Road, has benefited more and more people across
different countries. Many livelihood projects built by China, including highways, railways, and
cross-sea bridges, have brought tangible results to the people in
Belt and Road partner countries.
In Croatia, I saw the Peljesac
Bridge, constructed by a Chinese enterprises consortium, realizing
the centuries-old dream of connecting the south of Croatia with the rest of the country. In
Uzbekistan, I visited the
Pengsheng Industrial Park, the first investment project by a
Chinese private enterprise in Uzbekistan, where Chinese drip irrigation
technology had been introduced for large-scale vegetable
cultivation, leading to substantial reductions in labor costs. In
Tajikistan, I saw Chinese
enterprises revitalizing the China-Tajikistan highway.
Lu You, a renowned poet in
China's southern Song dynasty
(1127-1279), once said, "What is learned from books is superficial
after all. Wisdom comes from real life." I completely agree with
this idea.
Over 700 years ago, Marco Polo
amazed Europe with his detailed
chronicle of a 24-year journey across Asia, which invoked Westerners' aspirations
for China.
Today, walking on the same "golden ancient route" with
Marco Polo's book in hand, I felt a
deep sense of pride. Looking back on my journey, I want to tell
friends of my age: Be brave in pursuing your dreams - nothing is
impossible!
As planned, I will reach China
this summer, a destination I have long yearned for. With my dream
about to be fulfilled, I am brimming with excitement. I hope to
follow in Marco Polo's footsteps,
gain a deep understanding of today's China, and continue to sow seeds of friendship
along the way.
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