From Paris to Shanghai: A Serendipitous Reunion at CIIE

A month ago, a Chinese blogger living in Paris met an Italian winemaker during a trip to Italy. This November, he ran into the man's younger brother – not in Europe, but at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The blogger, who goes by the name "Paris Xiaoguoguo" online, shared the unexpected reunion in a video on WeChat Channels.

He said the Italian vintner had jokingly sent him a location pin for the CIIE, teasing, "Come and visit!" Weeks later, it turned out the winemaker's brother had actually flown to China to showcase their family's wines – and even bought a ticket for the blogger to attend the expo.

"I told him last month he should come see China – and now, here he is, running a booth at the CIIE!" the blogger laughed, filming amid the bustle of the exhibition floor.

When they met, the Italian exhibitor excitedly showed him around the stand, praising the event with wide-eyed enthusiasm.

"China's International Import Expo is amazing – food, drinks, everything! Super cool!" he exclaimed in English.

The short video quickly went viral, drawing over 2,000 likes. Commenters flooded in with travel tips for the Italian guest: some urged him to visit Yangcheng Lake for hairy crabs, while others recommended classic Shanghai experiences – from soaking in the city's glamor at the Peace Hotel and the Bund to sampling small wontons and soup dumplings at local eateries.