“Sri Lanka is My True Serendipity”

Before talking about your journey and experiences in Sri Lanka, I would like to know who Shiyuan Yang is, what kind of person is she?

Climbed mountains, enjoyed good wine in Italy, hiked in Australia, and reached the North Pole… (smiles) As a frequent traveler, I have traveled in over 30 countries on four continents. My Sri Lanka islander story originated from a trip. I found my “serendipity” here. Now Shiyuan Yang is an author and blogger who lives in Colombo with the family, the one who writes about Sri Lanka most in the Chinese Language, with seven books published and over a million social media followers in China.



What is the main purpose of your visit to Sri Lanka? Did you know about Sri Lanka before coming here?

Sri Lanka was one of the stops during my graduation trip. I had heard the name before, which sounded to me like a beautiful country. Some people told me not to go. They said the news coming from Sri Lanka is not good and it’s unsafe. But it turned out not to be true.



How did you find the Sri Lankan society and its people when you first arrived here? What were the challenges you had to face?

Because of my travels, I have become very 

adaptable. I enjoy Sri Lanka a lot, including the weather, wilderness and food. Sri Lankans have taught me many things. 

Many years ago, I joined a Sri Lankan company. Once, the company organized a trip to a lake in the deep mountains of Dambulla. We took the bus which was playing deafening music, and people were dancing all the way.

They even invited me to dance and I said I didn’t know how to. They were very surprised: “why Amy? There’s nothing to learn. Just move to the music!”

East Asian cultures are generally conservative, and I have naturally formed the habit of restraining emotions. I realized then that I should have better awareness of my true spirit. After many years of island life, now I would naturally “move to the music”.

You have been living here for almost 10 years. It is a big number. I think you have had many different experiences here. Can you recall some?

Sri Lanka is one of the most romantic destinations in the world. The land of serendipity brings spiritual tranquility and a chance to rediscover oneself. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy attracts a large number of tourists from China every year. I was one of the tourists. At the first sight of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in 2010, I was deeply touched, not only by the grandeur of the temple but also by the devotion displayed by the people. I regained my inner peace here.
Sri Lanka is rich with unique resorts and highly qualified tourism personnel. Sri Lanka has advanced strategies for environment conservation and protection of ecology. I think the potential for tourism development can be further explored while a well-protected environment can be beneficial in the long run.
Once I stayed in an eco-tent lodge in the dense forest in Sri Lanka. The waiter told me: “If a frog jumps into your tent, don’t worry, the frogs in Sri Lanka are non-toxic. You can call us and we’ll catch it.”

Then he said: “The flashlight is for you to go out at night. Please don’t forget to bring it. As for the brass bell on the table, there is no phone in the tent, we will come when you ring it.” 
The next moment  I opened the bathroom door, I was very surprised: in the small toilet, a huge frog was seen  with bulging cheeks and ragged skin. I went back to basics and those were some lovely memories.


I heard you found your husband here. How did that happen?

My husband is one of my earliest followers. Since 2010, I have been blogging to promote Sri Lanka as a travel and investment destination to Chinese people. Chinese people have their own internet habits, and the social media they use are different from those of other countries. The Internet world in China has been changing rapidly in recent years and I am trying my best to unveil the real beauty of Sri Lanka.

In 2010, “Douban” was still very popular. I posted lots of Sri Lanka travel content there. My husband was a passionate backpacker. When he was traveling in Nepal, a climber told him that Sri Lanka was a great place. He followed my Douban account and send me emails. Later we met in Colombo in 2011. Now our son is 5 years old and being a student in an international school in Colombo.

You see, Sri Lanka is my true “serendipity”.



You wrote seven books. What are they about?

Yes, probably I am the Chinese who wrote the most about Sri Lanka. My first book was Chinese National Geography Sri Lanka Travel Guide. I co-worked with my good friend and journalist who is working with the Sinhalese department of China Radio International. Suramya is her Sinhala name. This book was the first regional guidebook of China National Geography. But before that, I did some editing work for the first Chinese version of Lonely Planet Sri Lanka.

In the book, Sri Lanka the Purest Island, I tried to introduce more cultural aspects to inspire people. In addition to “what”, there is also “why” in this book. Just like Galle city with the stunning beauty, we can only know where her charm comes from if we truly understand her past. “I wish the years to be quiet, walking in the fairytale-like ancient city of Galle with the sea breeze, the sunshine dotted the streets and lanes in a cheerful tone. The city is in a romantic culture blending.”  

I coordinated with the most popular Chinese travel websites to jointly publish the Sri Lanka Guide eBook. These websites cater to travelers from all over China and also serve as an online channel to market Sri Lankan tours. We jointly launched different series, such as Cultural Triangle, Smart Traveler City Walk Guide, and more. Among these, the downloads of Country Travel Guide Sri Lanka launched with Qyer.com reached 351,136.

The upcoming new book Ten Years in Sri Lanka would be more focused on my personal stories on the island. The preface is from the Sri Lankan Embassy in China.

I also have books about India. India Incredible records our story, about a young Chinese couple’s trip to India, and the real India in our eyes. After that, we published India, the Place with the Blessing of Gods.




Why did you write all of them in the Chinese language? What is the feedback from readers?

I arrived in Sri Lanka in 2010. Sri Lanka was in a war until 2009. I have always had the habit of blogging. I found that many readers didn’t know anything about Sri Lanka. Some people thought that Sri Lanka was in Africa, and most people’s impression about the country was related to the war. At that time, searching for information about Sri Lanka in the Chinese internet world would lead to nothing. I thought, first of all, people had to know the real situation in Sri Lanka, and as a Chinese living on the island, my record was the most convincing.

I made a lot of contacts, some of them have become my close friends because of by blog. They read my articles and contact me. To me, the island is like a space outside the daily orbit of my planet, and something beyond expectation is always happening. I even met my husband here. This is the reason why I have such deep feelings for this land.

Now I also try to introduce China to Sri Lankan people. I am a columnist to the Sunday Observer newspaper. I write under the column name ‘Perceiving Sri Lanka through Chinese Eyes’. The Sunday Observer is the oldest and one of the most circulated weekly English-language newspaper in Sri Lanka since 1928.


Sri Lanka had a huge role in the ancient silk road and is also a member of the Belt and Road Initiative. What do you think about the China-Sri Lanka friendship?

China and Sri Lanka are long-lasting friends. We have been supporting each other since ancient times. Post COVID-19, there will be more room for cooperation in various fields to bring benefits to peoples on both sides. Chinese people and the Sri Lankan people have very good friendships. 


You were in Sri Lanka when the Easter Sunday terror attacks happened in April of 2019.What was your experience?

When the Easter Sunday attacks happened in 2019, I was holidaying on the south coast of Sri Lanka with my family. We rushed back to our Colombo apartment as soon as we got the news. My husband’s father was with my son at home.

We spent the following days in fear. I remember during those days I came across a huge outdoor billboard that said “In memory of those we have lost. We will rise again.” I burst into tears. This land is my second home. All my family is here and my son attends school in Colombo. It was unbearable for me to see Sri Lanka suffering. Although some of my Chinese friends left the island, we never thought of leaving even during the hardest time. As foreigners, we stand with Sri Lanka as always and try to help in the best way possible.

I published multiple articles about it. The Phoenix Will Rise. Sri Lanka will rise again soon. I kept records of my family life in Colombo to tell people that society has gradually come back to normal. On the 12th day after the blast, we went to   a local restaurant for dinner. On the 19th day, we had lunch at the Kingsbury, where the tragedy occurred, and recorded the updated safety measures the hotel had taken. On the 30th day, I even stayed at the Kingsbury Hotel one night and posted the experience on my blog, to prove that it’s safe.

I wrote a feature article after the attacks titled ‘Why Don’t I leave Sri Lanka?’ I told stories about four foreign friends based in Colombo who were happy to talk about their local life to encourage travelers to come back. I interviewed locals to share information about real Sri Lanka.

Tourism losses were unavoidable after the terrorist attacks. Thanks to the efforts of the Sri Lankan people, worries were gradually healed, with travelers coming back next year. At that time, I was very happy about Sri Lanka’s achievements. 


Some western media have been criticizing China about investments in Sri Lanka. They made some allegations about the Hambantota port as well. But the Sri Lankan government continued its friendship with China despite the allegations. As a Chinese citizen, what do you think about the controversies?

Sri Lanka always encourages foreign investment. That is why there is a Board of Investment to make incentive policies. As a Chinese, I think that any company abiding by the local commercial principles and based on equality and mutual benefit, have the freedom to do investment, whether it is a Chinese company or another foreign company. 

The goal of Hambantota port, as well as Sri Lankan blueprint, is to make Sri Lanka the logistics center of the Indian Ocean and the maritime hub revival.

I think both countries have considered all benefits and entered into agreements.




More Chinese investors have been identifying Sri Lanka as a potential investment destination. What do you think about that?

Sri Lanka should take full advantage of its inherent strengths and global supply chain shifts, and the strategic location is of key importance. If Sri Lanka can create a more friendly atmosphere for Chinese investors and continue to improve infrastructure, it will be of great benefit to attract Chinese direct investment.