What nobody tells you about visiting China

After a lot of research I thought I knew what to expect from China. Some things matched: Forbidden City is as spectacular as every review says, and Chengdu has a genuine energy I'd read about. The xiaolongbao obsession is completely justified.

What I wasn't prepared for: incredible cuisine variety. That element genuinely surprised me and added something I hadn't seen in any review. Also: language barrier is significant. That part the reviews undersell. Overall a wonderful trip — just a more layered experience than I anticipated.