Last week, I visited the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. I was quite impressed by the scenery there and the people I met. And I also found many interesting things.

For example, vendors in Yangshuo, a famous tourist city in Guangxi, don’t accept coins. And most vendors in the city speak very good English.

West Street, the most famous street in Yangshou, has a strong Western influence since many foreigners live and work there. A large number of Chinese people visit the street as well to improve their English.

One thing that upset me was the raunchy video being shown on the coach from Guilin to Longji. The video featured sexy women in bikinis dancing suggestively. There were some kids on the coach too, but their parents remained silent. Don’t you think the local authorities should do something about this?

A hospitable

Yao family

My friends had told me that Longji Terrace in Guangxi was gorgeous. Indeed it was. I was very impressed by it. However, the most unforgettable thing I experienced was the hospitality of the local Yao people.

I planned to stay with a local family on the top of the terrace. I didn’t know the way, so I had to wait at the foot of the terrace, waiting for someone to help me. Then a young girl came. She offered to guide me to the top of the terrace free of charge. You know, many local people act as guides but they charge tourists.

I followed the girl. When we passed her house, she invited me to visit. I happily accepted the offer.

It was a three-story wooden house. The first floor was for livestock, the second for people and the third for foodstuff and firewood. It was very simple.

The girl and her family members were all very kind and hospitable. They prepared camellia tea, which is the way that Yao people show their respect for visitors. It was so tasty. They also taught me some Yao dialect.

It was such a wonderful experience that I will never forget it.