CorradoPoliti, a 75-year-old Italian tourism expert, worked in the European Union for many years before he came to Yunnan. His Chinese name is Tian Fu, or Tian Daxiong (literally ‘big bear’).

Tian Fu fell in love with Yunnan province the moment he set foot here six years ago. Over the past few years, Tian Fu has driven to many places in Yunnan. He tasted various snacks and experienced colourful ethnic customs. Today, he has the habit of spendingsome time in Yunnan every year.

Tian Fu cannot choose which place is the most beautiful in Yunnan, because every place he has travelled offered a new surprise. He has been even more impressed by the people of Yunnan. Once, when he was driving through a small village in Luchun County with a friend when their car became stuck in the mud. Seeing this, villagers living nearby came to Tian Fu’s rescue and pushed the car out of the mud pit. He offered some money to the villagers, who not only refused the reward but also treated him and his friend to papayas.

As his understanding of Yunnan deepened, Tian Fu began to recommend the province to more people. In 2013, the Yunnan Provincial Tourism Development Committee recognized him as a “Yunnan Tourism Marketing Expert” for his insights into Yunnan’s tourism development. At present, in preparation for a UNESCO project on the protection of World Heritage Sites, he is organizing a training session for Yunnan—as well as South and Southeast Asian countries. In these ways, Tian Fu hopes to promote world heritage protection, and further the cooperation between Yunnan and other countries.

When asked why he is working so enthusiastically for Yunnan’s tourism development at his age, he answered humorously, “Because my blood sugar gets to a dangerous level in Europe and returns to normal in Yunnan.” For Tian Fu, Yunnan is more than a tourist destination. He loves Yunnan and regards it as a home away from home.