Ali interacts with customers to sell Turkish ice cream. Photo by Yang Shiyan, Xinhua News Agency
Chongqing, 24 Feb (Xinhua) -- On the long street of Ciqikou Ancient Town in Chongqing, there is an endless stream of tourists. In front of an exotic ice cream parlor counter, sticky ice cream flew up and down between shovels, and Ali from Turkey "played with" the customer for an ice cream and delivered the sweet and delicious cone to the customer.
Ali, 36, is from Istanbul, Turkey. When he came to China in 2006, Ali had only planned to travel, not to do business in China. "In 2010, as an exhibitor at the Expo, I brought authentic Turkish Taksim ice cream to China for the first time, showcasing the toughest and most chewy ice cream to the world." Ali said.
Unlike the usual purchase of things with one hand and one hand delivery, buying Turkish ice cream is not so easy to "get it". Ali said that Turkish ice cream with a history of more than 300 years is a typical representative of Turkish cuisine, known for its sweetness and viscous consistency. Its production and sale process is of a performative nature, allowing customers to enjoy their interactions.
"I met a beautiful Suzhou girl in China, and after marrying her, we opened our first Turkish ice cream shop in Shanghai." Ali said, "It's fun to work in China, making delicious ice cream, performing with customers, always hearing thanks and praise. ”
Ali makes ice cream at a Turkish ice cream parlor in Taksim, located in the ancient town of Ciqikou, Chongqing. Photo by intern Jiang Chun
In 2009, Ali and his wife came to Chongqing for tourism. "After staying for seven or eight days, we didn't want to leave, because the pace of life in Chongqing was very slow and comfortable. My wife felt comfortable living here, so she decided to settle down here. ”
Ali lived in Chongqing for 11 years. "My wife does finance and manages the company's money. I was the boss on the outside, but I was just an 'employee' in front of my wife. He said with a smile that he was already an authentic Chongqing "rake ear".
Having lived in China for many years, Ali has felt most deeply that China continues to open up to the outside world, which has greatly facilitated the lives of foreigners in China. "When I first arrived in China, the diet was difficult to adapt to, and the cheese and bread I often ate were not easy to buy. But now, I can easily buy authentic Turkish food in China, but also goods from all over the world. I even send goods from China online shopping back to my hometown in Turkey. ”
As an important partner in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative with China, Turkey has had increasing exchanges with China in recent years. More and more Turks are coming to China to study, work and live.
"China is the preferred destination for many Turks to go abroad, and I have recruited many people from my hometown to work in China. The income here is considerable, and many relatives and friends are willing to come. But they had to go through a year of professional training to work at my ice cream shop. Ali said.
Ali is being interviewed. Photo by Yang Shiyan, Xinhua News Agency
Today, in major Chinese cities, Ali has opened more than 50 Turkish ice cream shops, each of which has Turks who specialize in making Turkish ice cream. In Ciqikou, Ali's Turkish ice cream sales are very hot, and every day the store is crowded with tourists.
Ali was particularly grateful for China's anti-epidemic measures, saying, "China's rapid and effective control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic has not affected my business much." Many of my stores are open in tourist attractions, and after the epidemic was controlled, the number of tourists quickly rebounded. ”
Regarding his future plans, Ali said: "My grandparents have been making ice cream in Istanbul for more than 40 years, and my brother and I have expanded the family's ice cream business to China and France. I hope that my children will succeed me and continue my 'sweet' career in China." (Contributor: Jiang Chun)