From the cover photo, you can tell that China is a magical place. In a country with more than a billion people, I shouldn’t have been surprised by the sheer magnitude of its scale. Yet its true beauty lies in its ancient history, rich culture, and the stories woven into everyday life. It’s only when you zoom in that you begin to appriciate the details that make China extraordinary. I visited 5 cities in 10 days. I’m happy to cross out Chengdu, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Hongdu off my list. I hope to return soon to check out more cities.