My grandparents raised me in a small village in Sichuan Province, China. Before high school, the farthest I had ventured was to the township market just a few kilometers away. Most days were spent commuting to and from school, while my grandma worked in nearby fields. Rainy days were cherished as they meant she stayed home with me.
Growing up with only a television and no electronic devices, I knew a bigger world awaited. Despite financial challenges, my parents let me attend college without any extracurricular activities like singing, dancing, or sports. My college years were often spent sleeping, watching TV, socializing, and wandering, feeling unfulfilled.
I excelled academically like many Chinese students, cramming for exams at the semester’s end. Yet, I felt lost and sought fulfillment. Saving money, I traveled annually with friends, finding joy in exploring new places, meeting diverse people, and experiencing unfamiliar foods and landscapes.
China boasts rich tourism across 9.6 million square kilometers of varied terrain. Blessed as a Chinese person, I now use my spare time to explore extensively. From Sichuan to Chongqing, Yunnan, Xi’an, Xinjiang, Tibet, Fujian, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, I continue to travel and discover.
This journey inspired me to create this blog—to introduce global audiences to China’s ancient lands and provide practical travel advice. I hope to inspire others to explore this land with a history spanning over 5,000 years.