China's Sanyuanli is like a piece of Bangladesh

A few young men were walking along the sidewalk. They were talking to each other, and suddenly stopped. They heard the sound of someone speaking in the language of life, Bengali. They turned around and saw a Bangladeshi standing behind them. He was talking on the phone at home. The young Bangladeshi pedestrians were filled with emotion when they saw him. Seeing someone from their own country in an unfamiliar city, in a crowd of strangers, brought them back to life. The Bengalis were chatting in a hotel. Their conversation seemed like they were sitting in their own country and chatting with friends. But in reality, this was a scene in the Sanyuanli area of ​​Guangzhou, China. The expatriates know the area as a piece of Bangladesh in the heart of China, which is known as Sanali to Bangladeshis. 

The hustle and bustle of Sanyuanli city in Guangzhou province, China, starts in the morning. Most of the shops in the area, from food shops to shoe shops, clothes shops, supermarkets and daily necessities shops, are owned by Bangladeshis. Any Bangladeshi who visits China will definitely come to this city. Especially those who are not satisfied with Chinese food, Bangladeshis come to this city in search of local food. In addition to tasting local food, they talk openly with Bangladeshis. When a few people from the same region gather, they gather and chat. It has been seen around the city that Bangladeshis who have come for sightseeing or business are looking at products, some are bargaining, and some are talking to suppliers. The area is well known for various products including bags, shoes, clothes, cosmetics. Being a Bangladeshi-dominated area, people from different parts of Bangladesh always gather here. Therefore, in addition to shopping, they meet and meet expatriate Bangladeshis, make new acquaintances, and exchange business experiences regularly.

Sanyuanli's famous Bengali food shop is 'Hotel An Noor'. This hotel, owned by Bangladeshi national Abdul Aziz, is well-known among expatriates for its Bengali food. Most of those who come to Guangzhou city come to Hotel An Noor for lunch or dinner. Abdul Aziz, the owner of Hotel Al Noor, said that after staying abroad for a long time, the demand for food from one's own country is created. At the same time, for Bangladeshis who come to China for business, speaking Bengali, spending some time in a familiar environment, and exchanging necessary information also become important. However, even though there is a demand for Bangladeshi food abroad, many calculations have to be made to run the business. Shop rent, employee salaries, and other expenses have to be paid regularly.

A businessman named Mohiuddin Munna has come from Chittagong, Bangladesh to participate in the Canton Fair. He has come to the famous Annoor Hotel in Sanyuanli in the evening to have lunch in a group. He said, "I have not been able to eat the food here since coming to China. So I came here in search of local food. Coming here, I feel like I am in my own city, my own country. I have met many people familiar with my area. This is like a piece of Bangladesh in the heart of China."

Mazharul Islam, who works at a hotel in Sanyuanli, said that Sanyuanli is the main center for travel and chat for thousands of Bangladeshi businessmen, students and employees living in Guangzhou. Especially because there are Bangladeshi and halal food restaurants here, everyone flocks here. Everyone will come here for a while to touch a little bit of the local culture among foreign languages ​​and cultures. In addition, there is a huge market for wholesale products including bags, shoes, clothes, cosmetics in this area, from where businessmen from different countries including Bangladesh buy products and send them to their own countries.