Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Rayda) news: “Welcome, I am Rongjia Gul. What would you like to eat?” On August 9, 2023, the reporter visited the Anaerhan Xinjiang Restaurant, located on Minzhu Road in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. The interior decoration of the restaurant is bright and colorful; the crystal chandeliers, floral patterned tiles, and the paintings as well as hanging artworks on the wall are unique. Uygur ethnic dance music lingers in the air, and the rich aroma of kebab fills the room. The moment you enter the door, it feels like traveling back to northwest China’s Xinjiang, which is about 4,000 kilometers away from Lianyungang City.

Photo shows Chen Qingrongjia, the lobby manager of Anaerhan Xinjiang Restaurant, serves food to customers. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/ Rayda)

The "post-90s" girl who calls herself "Gul" is the lobby manager of this restaurant. Her name is Chen Qingrongjia, a native of Lianyungang City.

“The name ‘Rongjia Gul’ was given to me by my Xinjiang friends because I love dancing Xinjiang dances and eating Xinjiang cuisine.” Chen Qingrongjia said with a smile. At the moment, she really looked a bit like Gul in Xinjiang. (Gul refers to beautiful or elegant women of Uygur people.)

The Anaerhan Xinjiang Restaurant, where Chen Qingrongjia works, has been open for 13 years. From a small shop at the beginning to the current three-story, over 300 square-meter restaurant, it has always been the top choice for people to taste Xinjiang cuisine.

“We have three chefs from Xinjiang. To ensure the authentic taste of our dishes, many ingredients are transported from Xinjiang,” Chen Qingrongjia said.

In recent years, with the promotion of the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, Lianyungang City and Xinjiang have become increasingly closer in economy, trade and personnel exchanges. And the collaboration and paired assistance between Lianyungang City and Horgos City have further improved the cooperation on culture and tourism of both sides.

“In recent years, the number of customers in our restaurant has been increasing. Some of them have been to Xinjiang before and miss the Xinjiang cuisine, while others are tourists or businessmen from Xinjiang. During my conversations with them, I can feel that the communication and exchange between Lianyungang City and Xinjiang is increasingly closer, and I have also learned more about Xinjiang’s folk culture in this process,” Chen Qingrongjia said.

Although this “Gul” from Lianyungang City never visited Xinjiang, she has many Xinjiang friends.

“Brother Adili, he was the head chef when I first came to work at the restaurant, and I learned how to make Big Plate Chicken from him. Now he has gone back to Xinjiang, but we still keep in touch.” “Gul’s dance is especially beautiful. She is a student at Lianyungang Vocational and Technical College and works part-time in our restaurant. And she is my friend.” “This is a video of tourists from Xinjiang dancing in the restaurant. They sing and dance well, I envy them.” “This is the activity we held on Corban Festival, everyone gathered together to sing and dance, it was so much fun.” “Look, I can do 'neck moving' dance!” Chen Qingrongjia excitedly chatted with the reporter.

When Chen Qingrongjia started working at the restaurant, the general manager told her that food is the most attractive and charming tool for communication, as it can facilitate interaction and connection between people. “In the three years that I have worked here, I have deeply experienced the meaning of this statement,” Chen Qingrongjia said. The scenery in Xinjiang is beautiful, the cuisine in Xinjiang is delicious, and the friends from Xinjiang are also warm, sincere, and genuine. It is a happy thing to be able to recommend Xinjiang cuisine to people from different places and get to know and understand each other through food.

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