What they say

"The most impressive places for me were the Ancient City of Pingyao, Xiwan village and Mianshan Mountain. Pingyao county is located in the middle of Shanxi and was founded in the 14th century. Xiwan is located one kilometer from Qikou village. Mianshan has huge mountains, fresh air and silence, and Mianshan mountain itself is located in the southwest of Jiexiu county. During our trip we were warmly welcomed by local people, enjoyed natural scenery and learned a great deal about China's fascinating culture."

Aidana Mukhametgaliyeva, a student of China University of Political and Law

"Shanxi has a history that stretches back for thousands of years. Many historic monuments of China's history and culture are preserved here. The first and most vivid impression which remained in my memory of the trip is the feeling that I had traveled back in time to the medieval era. It looked like what you would see if you rode through ancient Chinese cities in a time machine called 'Tourist Bus Through Shanxi'."

Belov Maksim, a correspondent of China Pictorial

"It was a great experience overall. Some places were full of history, others full of mystery. Our excellent tour guide made the trip very enjoyable. I can probably think of a different story for each and every place, as each was a whole new adventure to me, but in general I will summarize my impressions under the following definition: 'Superheroes'. I was deeply moved by seeing all these heroes throughout the journey: The women gardening in the Qiao's courtyard fields, the elderly women selling handmade crafts on the streets and the woman carving stories on wood to preserve her memories and create stories."

Monica Zarate, teacher of Linguaphone English Agency

"This trip was full of surprises, new experience and feelings. We were somewhere underground in a tunnel and we were high in the mountains. We were in the modern city of Taiyuan and we were in ancient Pingyao. We tried different types of food and drinks, vinegar and alcohol. These days spent with China Daily in Shanxi province will always stay in my memory. I would strongly recommend such a trip to anyone that is tired of modern life and big cities. This is just what the doctor ordered."

Sultan Rakhimzhanov, a student of Beijing Technology and Business Universty

"Having been the birthplace of the Chinese civilization, Shanxi's allure is deeply rooted in 5,000 years of history. Shanxi is home to the mighty Yellow River, which is the sixth-longest river in the world and the third-longest in Asia. These waters have witnessed the inevitability of both birth and death. As I stood on its banks, the imagery gave one a sense of renewed hope and enthusiasm. The June ebb and flow serves more as a metaphor for humanity in the present moment. Undoubtedly in life there will be upheaval, turmoil and strife, concurrently there will also be precious and blissful moments that one cannot fully explain. Sometimes there are no logical reasons to feel the way one does, but the essence, aura and beauty of the environment can provoke emotions that were once guarded, locked and hidden."

Victoria Cann, PhD Candidate at Communication University of China

(China Daily 07/22/2016 page12)