I spent 10 months in China last year & it was absolutely amazing. I studied Chinese, worked on photography projects, and explored. This is a looking-back post of sorts. It’s been 1 year since I went on my first solo trip in China. I’d been in the country for 2 months and I decided to try out my really really bad Chinese. I was extremely nervous when I went and bought my train ticket, and I was surprised when the ticket lady understood what I was saying. 1 ticket, overnight hard sleeper bed, Changsha City to Jishou. After I arrived in Jishou, I found the bus station to Dehang (德夯). What I saw on that bus was out of this world.

Karst peaks grew in front of me, in true Hunan（湖南) fashion. The village of Dehang is a weird hybrid. Half of the villagers continue to farm, herd water buffalo, forage for mushrooms/roots etc. The other half cater to the tourists. Dehang itself is not that popular of a destination, but its really the only reason to visit that area of Hunan Province.

It did not disappoint. I spent two days hiking the mountains & trying to start conversations with confused locals. A few humored me &  you’ll see them pictured below. Dehang gave me the confidence to really get out there. I caught the travel bug, and spent many more months ridin’ trains solo around China.

Thank you, Dehang. I hope to see you again! 谢谢你！

P.S. Don’t you love my “self-portrait” with the cow patty? Hehehe

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