I was hesitant about traveling alone in China. Perhaps it’s because I was so used to being in a group in Taiwan and not having to think about accommodations, food, transportation, etc. Having traveled in so many countries, some of which spoke languages I didn’t, the prospect of going to a country that was completely foreign to me should not have been daunting. However, I did feel uneasy about the trip.

In Yangshou, nestled in the karst Mountains, is super popular with tourists — both Chinese and foreign. After my night bus ride from Shenzhen (across the border from Hong Kong) to Yangshou, I awoke to a light rain that had glistened the stone paths in the town. I felt like I was in a ski village catering to tourists — a tourist trap! Though I am no fan of being in tourist only areas, I liked Yangshou very much. I felt comfortable as I could get around with English and could meet other foreign solo travelers. I quickly met a group of people to go biking with the following day and enjoyed a wonderful 20 km plus ride through villages and rural roads in the countryside. My fear went away.

Biking in rural villages and along roads where there were no other foreigners was a real treat. Village kids often yelled “Hello” to us as we biked by them. We saw a family make a small fireworks show in front of their soon-to-be-opened shop. We were the surprise guests during school recess in a school along a rural road. The villagers were extremely friendly and inviting.

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