By Sudeshna Sarkar

When emperors of China's Han Dynasty (206B.C.-220A.D.) opened the Silk Road for trade with Europe and Africa, it is said that immigrants from the Middle East traveled along the route to northwest China, settling down in the place that is known as Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region today. 

Centuries later, Shereen Maniar Muhammad's story shows history is repeating itself. 

The vivacious 21-year-old came to Yinchuan, Ningxia's capital, five years ago as her father Maniar Muhammad Ali moved his family of five from stormy Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, to peaceful Ningxia.Nearly 36 percent of Ningxia's 6.6-million population are the ethnic Hui people who are Muslims. While the Middle East countries are learning Chinese for greater trade with China, Ningxia is learning Arabic for greater cultural communication with the Middle East. 

Ali came to teach Arabic at the Ningxia Muslim International Language School while his four children learned Chinese. Three months ago, Shereen joined the Ningxia Radio and TV Station in its newly started Arabic program section. She presentsLearning Arabic, a five-minute daily program at 7:50 p.m. that teaches youngsters Arabic. 

There are additional reasons for Ningxia's focus on Arabic. The region is seeking to be the link between China and the Muslim world, especially the Arab world. Also, the China-Arab States Expo, organized every two years, will be held in Yinchuan from September 10 to 13; so knowing Arabic would be a big help. 

Shereen admits she misses Baghdad. But home is where the heart is. And now her heart is in Ningxia since three years ago she married Abdul Karim, a Ningxia boy.