Meet Fereshteh Mokhtari—or as her Chinese fans know her, Mengjie—a 20-something Iranian translator, tour guide, and digital storyteller on a mission to connect China and Iran through culture. 📱🇮🇷🇨🇳
Starting her Mandarin journey in 2017 at a Tehran university, Mengjie fell head-over-heels for Chinese calligraphy, historical dramas (hello, The Story of Yanxi Palace fans!), and the art of tea ceremonies. After graduation, she turned her passion into a career, guiding Chinese travelers through Iran's ancient Persepolis ruins and bustling bazaars while breaking down cultural myths through viral vlogs.
🔍 \"Chinese tourists always ask about our poetry and saffron recipes—they\'re curious about real life here, not just politics,\" she shares. Her TikTok-style videos showcase everything from Iranian New Year traditions to comparisons between Persian and Chinese tea culture, racking up thousands of cross-border views.
But it\'s not a one-way street: Mengjie also uses Weibo to explain Iran\'s 2,500-year-old history to Chinese netizens. \"When they recognize Cyrus the Great\'s legacy? Best feeling ever,\" she laughs.
🌟 As young creators like Mengjie rewrite the script on cultural diplomacy, one comment sums it up: \"Who needs textbooks when we’ve got you?\"
