On November 22, artist Qing Lian celebrated his fifth anniversary in China by posting a handwritten letter on social media. In the message, he reflected on his experiences over the past several years, describing how different cities have shaped his career and personal development.
According to the letter, Qing Lian traveled extensively across China during these years and reached several milestones along the way: a major career turning point on Haiflower Island; settling into daily life in Beijing; filming his first music video in Inner Mongolia; meeting close friends in Qingdao and Changsha; and creating his first official collaborative song in Taiwan. He wrote that these experiences gradually formed a sense of belonging: “I realized that the end of wandering is the feeling of home this land has given me—every city feels like home.”
He concluded the letter in Chinese: “Happy fifth anniversary of coming to China. Once again, thank you all—really, thank you! I will always love this place and love you.”
The letter quickly drew public attention, with many noting that Qing Lian’s reflections show both his adaptation to a new environment and the genuine personal growth achieved through his cross-cultural journey.
