"Laowai" in China | Uzbek twins growing up with Mojiang

MOJIANG, May 4 (Xinhua) -- For Uzbek twins Han Shang and Hu Sheng, born in 1994, an annual festival in southwest China has become the center of their lives. Since first attending the 14th Mojiang International Twins Festival in Yunnan Province, the brothers, who first came to China to study in Chengdu, have become regular participants in the global gathering.

They recall being amazed by seeing so many twin pairs in Mojiang on their first visit, and later introducing the festival to their parents, who were surprised that China hosts such an event dedicated to twins.

The brothers have witnessed the region's infrastructure transformation firsthand. The once-arduous journey involving flights and long-distance buses has been replaced by direct high-speed trains to the county. During these annual visits, they have formed lasting bonds with fellow twins, such as the Cao brothers from Xi'an and the Di brothers from Kunming.

Today, their connection to China extends far beyond the festival. Hu Sheng has settled in Chengdu to start a business, while Han Shang manages cross-border trade between Uzbekistan and China. For them, Mojiang bears witness to their growth and serves as a bridge between their homeland and China.