A city usually chooses to use a local image as its symbol, but in Guangdong Province's Foshan, authorities have adopted a more international approach.

"Mr Foshan" is now Ndongo Abdallahi, 27, from the West African country of Mauritania. He was awarded the title, also known as "Foshan Charm Ambassador," in an open contest that attracted thousands of applicants last year.

"My life has changed tremendously since I won the title last November," he told China Daily. "I'm much busier than ever before and my life has become more and more exciting."

Alongside teaching English at a group of kindergartens he has been involved in the city's promotional campaigns at home and abroad, and participated in various welfare activities.

He said he went to Malaysia to promote the Asian Cultural Art Festival, which the city hosts, and his efforts helped tremendously.

"A foreigner as the city's charm ambassador like me has many advantages," he said. "My role itself speaks powerfully for the city's openness and acceptance."

He said foreigners come away with the impression that the city is an ideal place to work and even live.

He said his first impressions of China came from kungfu (martial arts) films: "I used to take it for granted that most people in China were kungfu masters, and that even the vendors on the street could be kungfu hermits!"

Abdallahi came to Guangzhou in 1999 to study medical science at the medical college of Sun Yat-sen University. He soon found, to his disappointment, that his kungfu impression was absolutely wrong.

It took him one and a half years to master the Chinese language and he obtained a bachelor's degree as scheduled.

(China Daily June 21, 2006)