It was the year of 1995, and a markedly hot July weather welcomed me to the People´s Republic of China. 

The taxi driver who took me from the airport to the hotel, talked during the whole trip. Once there, while I was checking in, I observed a very tall lobby and a big flag of the country. I laughed to myself imagining a week-long séjour in a Communist Party-inspired lodging.

In the next morning, I woke up very early, and not caring much about the long airtravel, went right away to visit the Forbidden City. I crossed the Tiananmen Square and as I was almost entering the main gate, two Chinese girls walked towards me and asked whether I would like them to be my guides. They spoke very good English and were absolutely not ashamed or even shy to chat with a foreigner. I agreed and so we went to buy the tickets.

Only when we stepped in, I realized that I was actually surrounded by centuries of battles, scientific achievements, cultural traditions and secrets of an ancient civilization, that was reunited as a nation in 221 B.C., in the Qin Dinasty.

Everytime I kept my eyes on any detail, they came closer and explained it in such an enthusiastic manner, that it was even more pleasant to learn things about the country.

Back to the Square, at the end of the tour, I asked how much I owed them. They said they would rather have a lunch paid. So I did it. After the meal, we said goodbye with a kiss in the cheek (this was the sole moment they seemed a little embarassed) and agreed to meet the next day again, at the same place.

This day always crosses my mind when I mull over the rise of modern China. The willingness to talk to and to learn from a foreigner in such a confident, curious and proud way told me many things about the Chinese.

Firstly, they are absolutely outward-focused people that actually show stark interest in other countries.

Secondly, they choose the world as their natural stage, to act in order to achieve their goals, expand markets, project influence and develop the country. 

Thirdly, they have set a clear objective, which is to eventually regain the erstwhile superpower status. It seems they are preparing themselves accordingly.

Some peoples seem to behave as shelves in that they close their markets, despise foreign trends and truths and always pick sorts of me-myself-and-I strategies.

Others seem to have a sense of national unity that enhances the desire and capability to overcome the hurdles of the past and the uncertainties of the future, and win.

The twin sisters were two little and beautiful examples of a great nation.