KUNMING: Over a decade after opening his first hotel and cultural center in Xizhou town of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Brian Linden and his team opened their third project in 2021 in the province’s Shaxi township, with the new site overlooking an ancient Bai ethnic village and a tranquil lake.
In 2008, Linden, an American entrepreneur, and his team restored and repurposed heritage buildings and turned them into popular destinations for experiencing the rich cultural traditions of the respective surroundings, naming the boutique hotel brand the Linden Center, a center for cultural and interpersonal exchange.
Without the involvement of private investors, Linden and his partners aspire to restore local buildings and work for heritage conservation.
“In the past, many foreigners came to China for economic opportunities, but very few spent extended time to learn from the country’s rich history,” said Linden. “We want to encourage foreigners to view China differently, not solely for the financial purpose.”
Before first coming to China in 1984 as an international student, Linden worked as a carpet cleaner in Chicago.
“I was cleaning the carpet at the house of a professor of the University of Chicago, who had just returned from a trip to China, and he asked me to put a red flag onto China on the world map,” recalled Linden. “But with minimal education, I didn’t know where China was.”
Out of curiosity about the country, Linden applied for a Chinese government scholarship. To his surprise, his application was accepted and he received an opportunity to study in Beijing.
His first encounter with China was full of surprises and unexpected opportunities.
“When I was working out on the street on the third day after my arrival in Beijing, I was approached by a director who asked me to act in the first Chinese film starring a foreigner as the lead role,” he said.
Four years later, Linden left China with his wife, whom he met in east China’s Nanjing city, to pursue doctoral studies at Stanford University.
He later began to work on educational projects all over the world. During his extensive international travels, what disappointed him most was the outside world’s lack of understanding of China.
“I’ve been to over 100 countries, but most of them don’t understand China, and I want to provide them with a more balanced view of this country,” Linden said.
“To achieve this goal, my team and I want to create social enterprises in each site, which can ensure that local villagers receive financial benefits, and visitors can enjoy an interactive experience, instead of solely experiencing the comforts and luxury of travel,” Linden added.
With this goal in mind and his passion for China at heart, Linden shared his idea with his wife, a third-generation Chinese-American, and their two sons, who were 6 and 9 then. His family was very supportive of his decision and they decided to move back to China in 2003.
