Dragon's Backbone

Before I left for China many people were asking: “why are you going there?” Not so much as a question, but as a statement implying that they wouldn’t. Many times this was followed by jokes about saying hi to Sing Pho and getting sick of eating rice. Another question I got a lot was “how are you going to get around not speaking the language?” Concern and fear of the unknown I suppose. That is why we chose China. It is misunderstood and not traveled much by westerners. The usual Asia trip begins in Bangkok and circles around to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and maybe even eventually on to Australia. I’m not knocking this route at all: in fact, I am in Vietnam right now and it is spectacular. China is off the beaten path and that is what I was looking for out of my backpacking adventure.

And this is exactly why I chose China:


As our time on the road accumulated our desire for seeing rural China grew stronger and stronger. A city is a city no matter where you go. Sure every Chinese city we have visited had something unique to offer, but the country side is what we craved. Visiting rice terraces was on top of my things to see list. We visited and stayed overnight in the Longji Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces outside of Guilin. Of course we just had to stay at the highest guesthouse in the terrace, which was called Panorama Hotel! It reminded us a little bit of The Shining: red carpets lining the creaky halls with lights that went out at any time. But the view from our third story room was amazing.



This was definitely my top experience in China. It was everything I had hoped it to be. We hiked, we ate home cooked meals made by the local indigenous women, and we woke up to a million dollar view. We also met amazing people along the way. Playing cards with Viola and Grace, our new Chinese friends, is something I will never forget. When you're traveling, where ever in the world you are, you forget about your fears you had before you left home. Communication barriers are fun rather than frustrating. Getting lost turns into just finding something else. If you have an open mind about China, you will be pleasantly surprised. I admit it isn't always easy and sometimes I have gotten frustrated, but I have to remember that I am a guest to China. I must embrace the customs, rather than comparing how different things are from home. By emersing myself, I must step outside myself. Now that I am outside of China in Vietnam I understand this a whole lot better. And now I can't wait to go back.