Tianjin, a metropolis in northern coastal and one of the five national central cities of China, is a wonderful place to visit and live. Its varied European-style streetscapes, mixed with the concrete and glass monoliths of contemporary China, and cultural attractions such as the local xiangsheng comedy performances, also known as crosstalk, attract many tourists from all over the world. 

Dr. Ross Colquhoun, is a Science Fellow and Executive member of Drug free Australia. He is also an old China hand, who has travelled in China for 10 years. Currently he works as a Foreign Expert in Tianjin University (TJU), he has such a deep affection for China that he rewrote many Chinese stories, as well as published them as books. 

On September 15, 2017, Friday, CCTV interviewed Dr. Colquhoun at Tianjin University Press, where he was discussing his new book with the Press staff.

The CCTV journalist interviewed Dr. Colquhoun with a few questions. The following, presented in a Q＆A format, is the result of those interactions. Both the questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.

CCTV journalist: Why did you want to write this book about traditional Chinese stories?

Dr. Colquhoun: Because I grew up with the stories from the West, they are very similar ones. And as I have travelled through China over last ten years, I have become aware of some of these stories which remind me of the stories of my youth.

But I want to understand more about them. I have my students wrote small sections of the stories and I rewrote them. They were then translated back into Chinese by Masters In translation students as an internship. The book consists of 16 stories both in English and Chinese, each with universal themes. Its great charm will interest overseas Western readers. And the idea is to allow western readers to view the perspective of  Chinese culture - the uniqueness of culture but also the universal nature of story reading and storytelling from one country to another.

CCTV journalist: So you like traditional Chinese culture? 

Dr. Colquhoun: I love Chinese culture, yes.

CCTV journalist: So how long have you been here in Tianjin?

Dr. Colquhoun: I’ve been here for three years now.

CCTV journalist: Three years. That’s quite a long time I think.

Dr. Colquhoun: Well, it seems short.

CCTV journalist: Really?

Dr. Colquhoun: I have had a wonderful time here in China and I’ve been traveling here for the last ten years. Finally, when I retired I thought I would like to work here. The reception I’ve received from Tianjin University has been fantastic. And I have made wonderful friendships and received support from people here. It’s been a wonderful part of my life being part of Tianjin University and Tianjin community.

CCTV journalist: So you are saying the people here like to support you and are friendly. So what do think about the local Tianjin people?

Dr. Colquhoun: Remarkable. Aha I’ve been very gratified about the support I’ve had and the friendship I’ve found here as well as the honesty of the people. I must say it is a problem sometimes because I am trying to learn how to speak Chinese, and every time I do, someone interrupts and says: Let me help you. Let me talk to the cashier. Let me talk to the ticket officer. Let me talk Chinese. So one of the biggest changes in China in the last ten years is a number of Chinese who can speak English.

CCTV journalist: Why do you love Tianjin so much? Can you tell me some of the reasons?

Dr. Colquhoun: I think Tianjin is a beautiful city. I think the architecture is outstanding. Haihe running through the middle of the city is one of its best features. I think what impressed me most is the design of the city from an urban planning perspective. In that the historical buildings are left intact and visible. And I love the parks in the city. I enjoy sports. I play tennis, I swim and I play badminton, and there’s lots of facilities and space to do all of those.

CCTV journalist: Do you see any change in the town, I mean the city, over the last five years?

Dr. Colquhoun: Yes, for the remarkable changes I’ve observed in recent years I think the most notable one is infrastructure. The construction of the high speed rail link between Tianjin and Beijing might be the biggest. It’s now possible to get to Beijing for the afternoon to visit a gallery, have dinner with friends and come back in the evening. So it is very convenient. There has been remarkable change not just in Tianjin but across China. It is absolutely amazing. 

After the interview, reporters from the TJU International Media Association had a brief conversation with the CCTV journalist Wang Shuo about her experiences working as a full-time journalist for CCTV-News Channel. 

During the conversation, Wang recalled her previous tour of TJU during Crabapple Season, which was her fondest memory of the campus. Wang also talked about her impression of TJU, as the oldest institute of higher education in the modern history of China, TJU’s 121-year history is the epitome of the progress of modern Chinese higher education. The university’s reputation has been earned not only for its advanced and high-level education, but for its beautiful scenery as well as the open and creative atmosphere.

Wang also gave her advice on how to become qualified journalists, she mentioned school journalists were supposed to collect every piece of useful material and get practiced. Finally, she added that school journalists should read and learn more, pay attention to details and have passion for life.

By: Qiu Ya, Ma Junjun and Wang Yuanpeng

Photo: Yao Weidong

Editors: Yin Shiyu, Qin Mian and Christopher Peter Clarke