Chinese food has long been considered a delicacy all over the world. And now the Belt and Road initiative has led to a growth in the cuisine's popularity in Kazakhstan.
Liu Ming is a successful business man. He came to Kazakhstan 15 years ago when he worked as a waiter and didn't speak any Russian. Now he owns several Chinese restaurants. This one opened in 2013, and can cater for 200 people.
"There are difficulties, language comes first. People in Kazakhstan are kind and have helped me a lot," Liu Ming, owner of The "Golden Age" Restaurant, said.
Introducing Chinese food to the locals has not been an easy task. Liu is trying hard to please every customer, from city residents, to Chinese visitors to Kazakhstan.
"Peking Duck is the first choice for Chinese customers. And for local people, we combine Chinese food with local flavors. They are all happy," Liu said.
15 years ago Liu Ming came here to work in a restaurant, now he has his own restaurants. Like most Chinese here, they earn their livings through hard working. As Liu Ming said, this is his new home now.
Aygerim Satybaldy works as a cooking assistant at another Chinese restaurant, the Beijing Plaza. She's a beginner in the catering business, and is now learning how to roast Peking Roast Duck.
"Sometimes customers are asking how to make Peking Roast Duck, I tell them it's a secret," Aygerim Satybaldy, assistant cook of Peking Plaza in Astana, Kazakhstan, said.
She is learning from Liu Xiaojun, a chef from China. And in spite of the language barriers, she is improving her cooking technique fast.
"Now she is learning slicing the duck, the next step will be learning how to roast a duck," Liu Xiaojun, chef of Peking Plaza in Astana, Kazakhstan, said.
China's Belt and Road Initiative is attracting more merchants and tour groups to Kazakhstan. Demand is so strong for Chinese food
"I tried it several years ago, but then I did not like it then. I don't know why, but after I tried 3 times, I wanted to eat it more and more," Customer Vladmir Antonov said.
Aygerim Satybaldy has got used to people's curiosity. She now feels more confident in her ability to cook Chinese food.
