Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike targeting the southern Lebanese village of Khiam, on November 2, 2024. Photo: VCG

Editor's Note: 

From the 2006 Lebanon-Israel conflict to the escalating tensions in 2024, Zhao Ying, an ethnic Chinese, has experienced it all as she chose to stay in Lebanon while refusing to evacuate twice. Currently, she serves as the president of the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange. Since arriving in Beirut in 2001 with her Lebanese husband, she has been engaged in tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Lebanon, with no consideration of leaving.

Despite the labels often attached to Lebanon - "war," "over two years without a president," "nation unable to repay European debt" - Zhao shared her experiences of life in Lebanon over the past 23 years, from which we can glimpse the real Lebanon beyond the headlines and see the Lebanese people who, despite facing misfortunes and tragedies, still hold onto their love for peace.

This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats, to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid forward steps taken in the past and the present.

'Every Lebanese is a politician'

In 2001, when I first arrived in Beirut, once known as the "Little Paris of the Middle East," with my husband, some media outlets described my move as "marrying for love and moving to West Asia." In my view, love requires fate, marriage requires courage, and marrying someone from afar demands "strategy." This includes having the bravery to face the challenges of different cultures, the ability to bear the risks of one's decisions, and the confidence to survive and take root in a foreign land.

Although Lebanon is an Arab country, there are no deserts here. After World War I, Lebanon fell under French mandate. From 1940 onward, Lebanon was successively controlled by the Axis powers of Germany and Italy, and then occupied by British forces. In 1943, Lebanon declared independence, but British and French troops did not completely withdraw until the end of 1946. Even now, although the official language is Arabic, the languages used in Lebanese schools are more often French or English. It is common to find multilingual residents in Lebanon.    

Like many ordinary Lebanese families, my husband's family is large. His parents live in a small village in Northern Lebanon, where everyone shares the same last name. During the holidays, all my relatives and friends would gather together at home.

The main religions practiced in Lebanon are Islam and Christianity. Within Islam, there are sects such as Sunni, Shia, and Druze, while Christian denominations include Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and others. Additionally, Lebanon has over 100 political parties and more than 40 militia groups. Therefore, even within the same family, relatives may belong to different political sects. Coupled with the tradition of "every Lebanese is a politician," it is common for people to argue passionately about politics one minute and sit down at the dinner table to laugh and enjoy a meal the next.

First Confucius Institute in Middle East 

My husband studied Chinese and acupuncture for nine years in China and has been working as a manager and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner at a Chinese medical center in Lebanon since 2001. From 2007 to 2011, he also taught traditional Chinese medicine at Saint Joseph University in Lebanon.

In early 2006, the Confucius Institute in China urgently needed to find partner institutions in Lebanon. At that time, I was managing a language center and promoting Chinese culture through teaching Chinese. Upon hearing about this need from my home country, I immediately set aside the business of the language center and began to help connect the institute with Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, working hard to facilitate the establishment of the Confucius Institute program in the Middle East. Just as we were about to sign the agreement, the Lebanon-Israel conflict broke out.

Looking back on the Lebanon-Israel conflict in the summer of 2006, I still feel a sense of dread; it was my first experience of war. Every day, I could hear Israeli warplanes tearing through the sky, followed by the deafening sound of explosions. Each time, I worried about whether a bomb would fall on my head, and I had no idea how long the war would last.

The conflict lasted for 34 days, and the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon organized the evacuation of Chinese citizens in six batches, but I ultimately chose to stay in Lebanon. The reasons for this decision were twofold: First, the conflict had already shown signs of being geographically limited, with attacks primarily targeting Lebanon's infrastructure and areas inhabited by Shia Muslims, while the Christian neighborhood we were in was relatively safe. Although we faced issues like supply shortages and unstable electricity supply, and often heard the sound of bombing nightly, our lives were not in danger. Second, to maintain our source of income, my husband's clinic had to resume operations, and I was also worried about leaving him behind.

Fortunately, it only lasted a total of 34 days. After the conflict ended, the Confucius Institute at Saint Joseph University in Lebanon was officially established on November 2, 2006, becoming the first Confucius institute in the Middle East. In the first year after its establishment, Chinese became the most popular foreign language course at Saint Joseph University, with the highest number of elective students, second only to Spanish.

In my view, the success and growth of the Confucius Institute program in Lebanon can be attributed to the good development of the education sector and cultural inclusiveness in the country. In Lebanon, which covers just over 10,000 square kilometers, there are 41 universities. This solid educational foundation has made Lebanon a country rich in talent in the Middle East, and the long-standing harmonious coexistence of various religions has fostered a high level of openness and cultural inclusiveness in Lebanon.

Overseas Chinese residing in Lebanon visit the Chinese camp of the UN peacekeeping force deployed to Lebanon. Photo: Courtesy of Zhao Ying

Functioning and surviving in war

When people hear about Lebanon, in the recent past, words like "war" and "national bankruptcy" often come to mind. Naturally, they also wonder how this country manages to function and survive.

Lebanese people are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, a trait that can be traced back to the ancient Phoenicians, who mastered shipbuilding and used Lebanese cedarwood to create vessels for trade in the Mediterranean Sea. Interestingly, one of Lebanon's three main pillars of its economy is remittances from the overseas Lebanese community. While Lebanon's population stands at roughly 6 million, there are over 15 million Lebanese people and their descendants living abroad. Despite migrating overseas, these individuals maintain strong ties with their homeland.

Since 2013, China has consistently been Lebanon's largest trading partner. As I have observed, many products on the Lebanese market originate from China, particularly clothing, shoes, bags, electronics, and machinery. In recent years, solar energy products and electric vehicles have also become increasingly popular imports. Lebanon exports products like Baci Perugina chocolate, Elie Saab's fashion, as well as olive soap and skin care products to China.

In 2011, a group of Arab businesses jointly established the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange, a non-profit and non-governmental organization. I was elected as its president. Since then, I've led delegations of Arab entrepreneurs to participate in events like the China-Arab States Expo and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, while also assisting Chinese enterprises in expanding their reach and collaborating with partners in the Arab world. This strong trade relationship between China and Lebanon has also facilitated the faster integration of Chinese culture into Lebanese society. 

A Lebanese mother once told me she wants her two-year-old daughter to learn Chinese. She said, "Language learning starts from a young age. Her father is doing business with China, and she'll inherit his work someday!"

Furthermore, tourism is one of Lebanon's three major industries, alongside finance and remittances. This is an industry I've been involved in since 2008 when I founded my own travel agency.

Lebanon was once a popular tourist destination in the Middle East, but suffered greatly during the civil war from 1975 to 1990. After the conflict ended, the Lebanese government made revitalizing tourism a key part of its reconstruction plan.  

Statistics show that Lebanon's direct tourism receipts totaled $5.4 billion in 2023, accounting for about 25 percent of the country's GDP. However, the recent conflict between Lebanon and Israel has dealt a heavy blow to the Lebanese tourism industry.

Despite its small land area, Lebanon boasts six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, Beirut's central district showcases the city's transformation over millennia, highlighting its resilience after having been ravaged by six tsunamis. 

The National Museum of Lebanon in Beirut houses numerous world-class artifacts that chronicle the evolution of multiple civilizations across this land for thousands of years. Many exhibits document the scars left by war. For instance, in the second floor's last display case, there are numerous rusted and deformed glass and metal artifacts. These were damaged during the Lebanese civil war when the museum was situated in a crossfire zone, leaving its walls breached and allowing rainwater to seep into the basement, submerging the artifacts for years. The museum utilizes this unique approach to remind the world of the importance of peace.

A view of?the port of Beirut after the blast in August 2020, which is now a tourist attraction Photo: Courtesy of Zhao Ying

Always prepared for the unexpected 

Yet, this place, where people deeply despise war, repeatedly falls victim to it.

The summer of 2024 was supposed to be Beirut's most exciting time since the 2020 Beirut explosion. With over a dozen new restaurants and bars opening, and international musicians scheduled to hold open-air concerts, Beirut seemed poised to reclaim its former glory as the "Little Paris of the Middle East." It was expected to welcome a wave of tourists from around the world who would run along its beaches and shop for clothing and jewelry crafted by Lebanese designers. 

However, this hopeful vision was shattered on July 30 when an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Beirut. In response, Lebanon's concert organizers postponed upcoming events, airlines suspended flights, and several embassies issued travel advisories urging their citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon.

This year, a young Chinese lady nicknamed Shasha came to Lebanon for the first time. She and her Lebanese boyfriend had planned to hold their wedding in a historic church in Beirut in late September, but due to the conflict, they had to move the ceremony to a restaurant in the mountainous region of Faraya in northern Lebanon. 

While the South echoed with gunfire, the North celebrated with wedding songs and dances, in Lebanon, everyone does their best to overcome anxiety and fear, holding onto the hope that peace will ultimately prevail. 

Hope beyond conflict