DUSHANBE- “I have always wanted to learn Chinese. I plan to study in China after graduation,” said Qodirova Sayora, a senior university student.

Two years after learning the Chinese language at the Confucius Institute of the Tajik National University for Nationalities, Sayora is now a die-hard Chinese culture fan. She is currently learning to play the Chinese zither, a 2,500-year-old plucked string instrument. “It is very interesting to learn to play the zither, and that helps me learn Chinese,” she told Xinhua after playing a piece of ancient Chinese music.

In Dushanbe, there are many young, passionate university students like Sayora, keen to learn Chinese and know more about the Chinese culture. “The students are curious. They are especially interested in the Chinese characters — the way they are written, what they mean, and how to speak,” said Abdurahimova Shabnam, a Dushanbe-based mandarin teacher. Luckily enough, now Tajik students have more opportunities to learn about the Chinese culture in a comprehensive way.(Xinhua)…[+]