Ancient capital rekindles Croatian couple's zest for life

Tears welled up in his eyes as Simic reminisced about the moment. "After the performance finished, I walked up to the man, hugged him and cried, and he was comforting me, saying in Chinese 'don't worry, my brother', my interpreter told me.

"This man was a big inspiration for me. His teeth were all dark due to smoking, and he dressed in worn clothing. But he was so full of life and happiness, enjoying music and singing," he said.

Despite a bumpy start, Loncar said her fascination with the city began with countless rides on public buses across the metropolis and multiple visits to the famed Terracotta Warriors on its outskirts.

"I took a bus from this side to that side of the city, and the next day, I would get on another bus," she said. "Today, I am an expert on Xi'an buses."

Loncar said she has visited Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum 13 times.

"I want to show the Terracotta Warriors to everyone — my students, my friends from Croatia — and tell them stories of the place and help them discover the history. Last week, I was there again on my own and every time I always find something different," she said.