Xinhua Silk Road - Belt and Road Portal, China's silk road economic belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Website Xinhua Silk Road - Belt and Road Portal, China's silk road economic belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Website
Subscribe CustomBlackClose

Belt & Road Weekly Subscription Form

download_pop

Research ReportCustomBlackClose

The full edition of the report is available at Xinhua Silk Road Database. You can click the “Table of Content” to have a general understanding of it.

Click on the button below to create your account and get immediate access to thousands of articles.

Start a Free Trial

Xinhua Silk Road Database
International Relation

Indonesian sisters build cultural bridge through martial arts

July 20, 2026


Abstract : Zeela Nebulani and Zoura Nebulani are sisters from Indonesia with ancestral roots in southeast China's Fujian Province. Growing up in a martial arts family, with both of their parents working as professional martial arts coaches, Zeela started martial arts training at the age of 6 and began practicing Tai Chi at 12.

544b56704b794669b20e23fe51b7639f.PNG

Zeela Nebulani (L) and Zoura Nebulani practice for a martial arts competition at a sports center in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 18, 2026. Zeela Nebulani and Zoura Nebulani are sisters from Indonesia with ancestral roots in southeast China's Fujian Province. Growing up in a martial arts family, with both of their parents working as professional martial arts coaches, Zeela started martial arts training at the age of 6 and began practicing Tai Chi at 12.

In September 2024, Zeela enrolled at Rizhao Polytechnic University in east China's Shandong Province, where she majors in international trade. Inspired by her sister, Zoura enrolled at the same university this year and chose the same major.

While studying at the university, the sisters not only focus on their academic studies, but also continue their daily martial arts training. In their spare time, they participate in campus cultural performances and exchange activities with young people from China and other countries. They also create bilingual short videos featuring Rizhao's coastal scenery, local folk traditions and daily life, sharing them on Indonesian social media platforms. They introduce Indonesian culture to their teachers and classmates, promoting cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia.

Zeela and Zoura hope to serve as a cultural bridge between young people in China and Indonesia and contribute to closer friendship between the two countries. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

d05e8bb4e60f40d9a42e554c1edec5a0.PNG

Zoura Nebulani (front) and Zeela Nebulani (back) perform martial arts for their classmates at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

603b1c18369f41e69551435c9e458ebb.PNG

Zeela Nebulani (R) gives a thumb-up to her teacher Li Ning at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

289b7d7df17148c49814298d6d0a986b.PNG

Zoura Nebulani (L, front) practices Tai Chi under the guidance of her teacher Li Ning at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

f84bc786dd504b85ab3a6e6ad3544fa8.PNG

Teacher Han Liu helps Zeela Nebulani (C) and Zoura Nebulani (2nd R) practice Chinese pronunciation at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

18f687a4e2214c08a2fba32b92dae1c4.PNG

Teacher Han Liu helps Zeela Nebulani (3rd L) and Zoura Nebulani (4th L) practice Chinese pronunciation at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

9bf7371503804ab3a6c0db45931a22b7.PNG

Zoura Nebulani (C) practices Tai Chi under the guidance of her teacher Li Ning at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

dd5d7b234c37471cb3c9e1025b2f0b23.PNG

Zeela Nebulani (R) and Zoura Nebulani (L) practice Tai Chi with their teacher Li Ning at Rizhao Polytechnic University in Rizhao, east China's Shandong Province, July 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

Scan the QR code and push it to your mobile phone

Keyword: martial arts Indonesian sisters

Write to Us belt & road login close

Do you want to be a contributor to Xinhua Silk Road and tell us your Belt & Road story? Send your articles to [email protected] and share your stories with more people.

Click on the button below to create your account and get im http://img.silkroad.news.cn/templates/silkroad/en2017te access to thousands of articles.

Start a Free Trial

Ask Us A Question belt & road login close

If you have any questions, please enter them in the box below.

Identifying code Reload

Write to Us belt & road login close

Do you want to be a contributor to Xinhua Silk Road and tell us your Belt & Road story? Send your articles to silkroadweekly@xinhua.org and share your stories with more people.

Click on the button below to create your account and get im http://img.silkroad.news.cn/templates/silkroad/en2017te access to thousands of articles.

Start a Free Trial