Jahan Saryyewa from Turkmenistan has traveled an inspiring road, rising from one of the first Turkmen students at Lanzhou Jiaotong University to becoming a distinguished professor of the Chinese language. Today, she stands as the only foreign expert at the university to hold an official professional certificate for teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Her career is a testament to the power of cultural exchange and the high level of academic excellence achieved by Turkmen professionals abroad.

Jahan’s journey in China began in 2008 when she arrived as part of the initial group of twelve Turkmen students to enroll at the university. Her fascination with China started in middle school, sparked by the history of Confucius, the Great Wall, and China’s rich tea culture. Over the years, Lanzhou Jiaotong University has graduated more than 200 Turkmen students, many of whom have returned home to contribute to their nation's development, while Jahan stayed to foster the next generation of scholars.

In 2019, Saryyewa moved into a teaching and management role within the university's Institute of International Education. Her multilingual skills are a vital asset in her classroom; she communicates in Russian with students from Central Asia and Russia, and in English with those from Europe and Africa. Speaking to the Xinhua News Agency, she remarked, "Knowing different languages and understanding diverse cultures allows me to build bridges of communication with the world."

Her contributions were formally recognized in 2022 when she received the Gansu Provincial Government’s "Dunhuang" Award. This honor is reserved for foreign experts who have made significant contributions to the region's economy, science, education, and professional training. Beyond her academic duties, Jahan leads a book lovers' club at the "Foreign Experts' Book House," where teachers and students from around the globe gather to share their literary experiences, further solidifying her role as a cultural ambassador between the two nations.