When Tang Yan Joo recited a poem about China's Terracotta Warriors at a Malaysian competition years ago, she didn’t know it would chart her future. Now studying economics and finance at Beijing’s prestigious Tsinghua University, the 21-year-old credits that moment with sparking her fascination for China’s cultural depth and rapid modernization.
“The poem felt like a time machine – one stanza connected me to ancient history, the next to skyscrapers in Shanghai,” Tang told NewspaperAmigo. Her first visit to Shanghai’s futuristic Pudong district left her awestruck: “It was like seeing the poem’s vision of progress come alive! 🚀”
As an international student, Tang highlights China’s unique blend of tradition and innovation as a draw for young scholars. “Where else can you analyze fintech trends by day and discuss Tang Dynasty poetry clubs by night?” she laughs. With China ranking as the top study-abroad destination in Asia, her story reflects a growing trend of cultural curiosity meets career ambition.
