Dressed in traditional Chinese attire, greeting each other as people did in ancient times, and slurping up local noodle dishes, three international students studying in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, embarked on a train trip to Qishan County, the legendary setting of the Chinese fantasy epic film "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force", to explore its real-life inspirations and experience traditional Chinese culture.
"Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force," is the second installment of China's blockbuster mythological trilogy, which is based on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel "Fengshen Yanyi (The Investiture of the Gods)". The trilogy depicts the fall of the Shang Dynasty and the rise of the Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century B.C., weaving together battles between mortals, deities, and demons.
The students shared their excitement about the trip, highlighting the opportunities the movie provided to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
"I'm so excited because it's my first trip on a high-speed train in China. I can't believe the city from this movie - Xiqi City - exists in real life, and we can see it in reality," said Dilnaz Kadyrma, an international student from Kazakhstan studying at Northwestern Polytechnical University.
"The movie's really important when you really want to understand certain things about Chinese culture," said Johnpaul Ogochukwu Igbonaju, an international student from Nigeria studying at Northwestern Polytechnical University.
The train they take running between Xi'an to Qishan has transformed one of its carriages into a "Creation of the Gods II" themed experience, giving passengers a taste of the history and culture that make Qishan so captivating.
"It's pretty exciting to see all these decorations. It kind of puts you in the genuine vibe," said Erik Grigoryan, an international student from Armenia studying at Northwestern Polytechnical University.
After arriving in Qishan, the students were welcomed with a ceremony performed by actors dressed just like in the movie. They explored a history dating back over 2,000 years, including the first recorded appearance of the word "China" on bronze artifacts.
"It shows very unique traditional Chinese culture. I highly recommend all tourists, also for foreigners to visit here," said Dilnaz.
International students explore real-life inspirations behind Chinese fantasy epic film
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
