Hamid at the 9th China-South Asia Expo. Photo: web

 
The 9th China-South Asia Expo recently concluded, but one story captured the hearts of attendees and netizens alike—an Iranian couple who braved war and hardship to fulfill their promise to attend the event. Why did they risk traveling through a conflict? How did their goods arrive? Did they sell out? And how will they return home after the expo? Social media buzzed with concern and admiration for the pair.

"We had decided to attend long before the war broke out," said Hamid, the husband. "I promised to bring this artist to see China's exhibitions, and I kept that promise."

After Iran's airspace was closed following the conflict, the couple had to drive around through the Turkish border. "Our vehicle broke down halfway, and we had to walk for a long time," Hamid recalled. Their journey took six days and five nights—from Tehran to the Turkish border, then a flight to Shanghai before finally transferring to Kunming. Arriving on the afternoon of June 21, they had no time to rest as staff immediately helped them with security checks and booth setup.

"Though they arrived nearly three days late, their exhibition items had already reached Kunming half a month before the expo's opening," explained Lu Lin, a staff member who assisted them throughout. Their goods—handmade carpets, copper plates, vases, and more—were air-freighted from Turkey to Shanghai. After clearing customs with the team's help, the items were transported to Kunming, arriving before the couple did.

In just three days, with support from many, all 400 of their handcrafted items sold out. Amid the bustling crowd, a young man wearing glasses murmured in awe: "This isn't just an exhibition—it's a modern-day Silk Road. The most precious thing here is the friendship."

But the most unforgettable moments came from customers who shed tears. "They heard our story and came specifically to see us," Hamid noted. "We hugged each other, and in that moment, I truly felt that the Chinese people are like family to me."