Argentine 'star' becomes ambassador for Xi'an culture

During a cultural exchange activity held in Xi'an in January, a man from Argentina in his late 20s who was recording the event on his camera quickly caught the attention of the attending reporters. Upon further conversation, it turned out he was a well-known "internet celebrity".

From Argentina to Xi'an, 29-year-old Rama Salemme is building on his passion for Chinese language and culture, writing his unique story in China.

Rama is an international student. During the winter break in early 2026, he decided to spend the Spring Festival here in Xi'an. He recorded a video titled "How international students spend winter break in China" and it gained widespread attention.

Many Chinese netizens shared tips on how to celebrate the holiday in Xi'an, providing dining, entertainment, and travel guides. "Everyone is so friendly here and I feel like I'm at home," said Rama.

On Rama's social media accounts, there are authentic life clips in Xi'an recording his experiences in this ancient capital. Whether it is exploring tourist spots, sampling street food, or simply posting amusing moments of daily life, all these attract more netizens to discover a warm Xi'an from diverse perspectives.

Rama's native language is Spanish but he has been studying English since he was a young child. At the age of 15, he took his first Chinese class at a local language school. Ten years later, at 25, he rekindled his passion and, despite a busy schedule, continued to study Chinese. "Chinese will become increasingly important around the world," he said in an interview.

In the summer of 2024, 27-year-old Rama joined a summer camp organized by the Confucius Institute, stepping onto China for the first time. His three-week trip to Xi'an made him fall head over heels for the city. He got accepted as an exchange student in 2025 and began his studies in Xi'an.

During his stay, he enjoyed lantern festivals, climbed the Xi'an City Wall, and participated in various cultural exchange activities with his friends. As someone clearly bitten by the travel bug, he has also honed his skills as a "transportation expert", mapping out travel routes and becoming a pro at metro transfers and high-speed rail travel.

This year he has already traveled across 12 Chinese cities, including Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. He managed to capture the beauty of each one, sharing stories, photos, and videos on his various social media accounts. Many followers, drawn to his accounts, subsequently deepened their understanding and affection for China.