Malaysian documents island life

FUZHOU — As dusk falls, Yii Siew Siew, a Chinese Malaysian, sits on the sandy beach with her husband, totally immersed in the splendid evening glow.

Yii, a media editor in Pingtan county, East China’s Fujian province, has made about 50 vlogs to record her stories on the island, where she found her passion.

When she first arrived in Pingtan about four years ago, she was impressed by the local culture and history.

“The life here is wonderful. I love the fascinating and romantic coastline. And I feel there’s much more to explore on the island,” Yii says.

“As an editor, I felt that the Western media was not portraying the real China that I know. There are so many great things about China — the amazing people, the beautiful culture and the rich history. All of these were rarely covered by Western media. So, as an expatriate living in China, I wanted to promote Pingtan and tell the world that life in China is beautiful,” adds Yii.

Yii started to make English vlogs in Pingtan. Her channel “Stephy’s Pingtan Travel” covers stories including those of other expatriates living in Pingtan, traditional Chinese food and the artisan village bazaars.

“Growing up as a Chinese Malaysian, my parents had always taught me to be aware of our roots. I remember growing up, reading and watching Chinese stories like Journey to the West. It was an important part of my childhood,” Yii says.

Having lived in Malaysia and Singapore for 30 years, for Yii, moving to Pingtan with her husband, a Pingtan local, was the right decision.

“I have always felt lucky because I can do the things that I love. Over the past four years in Pingtan, I have learned, seen and experienced many things,” says Yii, adding that she loves the strong bond between families and neighborhoods in the county.

“My mother-in-law takes good care of me, making me feel like I’m her daughter. Also, I feel warmly welcomed in the neighborhood,” Yii says.

In August 2016, the State Council officially approved a plan to build Pingtan into an international tourism destination. Over the past six years, tourism on the island has boomed, and many foreigners were lured to travel and settle in Pingtan.

“Pingtan has stepped up to make its voice heard. Now, we have plenty of exciting international events here, like the annual international kitesurfing competition and international cycling competition,” Yii notes.

“This island has so much potential, and I believe many more great things are to come,” she adds.