From Kansas to karst: Unpacking Guangxi's charms

Gabrielle (second from right) experiences traditional Dong ethnic cuisine and residents' hospitality. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

I never truly contemplated my own culture until I experienced another. Guangxi's mountains have taught me to love the plains of Kansas; the vast, open sky, which I once saw as empty, now reveals a quiet majesty.

Yet, some things transcend culture and connect us as humans. Music, food, a shared love of nature and the kindness of strangers — these are the universal threads that bind us beyond any language.