Brian Linden (US): Dali has an American village head

Since I set foot in Xizhou Town, Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in 2004, my life has been intertwined with the land in west Yunnan. Today, I’m affectionately referred to as the "foreign village head" by locals. I see my role as a bridge for promoting Chinese culture.

I was born in the 1960s into a blue-collar family in Chicago, US. Back to early 1980s, I balanced my teenage years by working part-time at a carpet cleaning company during the day and attending classes at the community college at night.

Through a fortuitous encounter, I discovered from a professor in Chicago about the scholarships provided by the Chinese government to international students. With the professor's encouragement, I mustered the courage to make a phone call to China, my heart brimming with hope.

I arrived in China in August 1983. My time in the country was marked by rich experiences such as learning, filmmaking, and participating in a study tour at Nanjing University, among others. Subsequently, I pursued my PhD at Stanford University and embarked on a new career at a Swedish company, where I engaged myself in international education projects across numerous countries.

After the birth of my first child, I desired to find a new job that would involve fewer business trips. With Chinese elements ever-present on my mind, I aspired to contribute to the country in a meaningful way.

In 2004, I sold my $600,000 house in America and, and accompanied by my wife and two sons, I flew directly to China. After traveling around the country, I decided to make Xizhou Town my new home. The rich traditions here are vibrant, and the locals, especially those in Xizhou, welcomed me like family.

With assistance from the Dali government, I transformed a traditional Bai-style house into the favored local tavern for foreign tourists. Today, the establishment is recognized as the Linden Centre.

Since this centre opened, I’ve joined hands with European and American schools in implementing international education projects. These initiatives have transformed Xizhou into a gateway for foreign students to explore and understand China.

For instance, the Linden Centre facilitated an opportunity for students from Shanghai American School to reside with rural elders over the age of 65 and create videos showcasing their lives. Additionally, I welcomed Middlebury College students to Xizhou, where they could produce documentaries and each authored a book related to the town.

 

Up to now, the Linden Centre hotel has established collaborative partnerships with institutions such as Sidwell Friends School, Shanghai American School, Princeton University, Yale University, Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, and others.

I noted that these students hail from some of the top schools in the US and they are would-be leaders across diverse fields. Their five-month educational journeys in China enabled them to gain comprehensive insights into the country.

Since 2008, I acquired two more local properties, namely the Baocheng House and the Yang Zhuoran Courtyard. With sufficient funding, I increased my dedication to public welfare initiatives in education, poverty alleviation, and agriculture.

Over the past decade, my center has welcomed over 200,000 visitors from China and around the world, ranging from diplomats, business leaders, academics, artists, Nobel laureates, and many others.

Chinese culture is truly remarkable, and I’m eager to showcase to the world the charm and essence of China.

Writing by Li Hengqiang; translating by Wang Shixue; photographs by Li Wenjun (Yunnan Gateway)