Unexpected emotional depth in China

I thought I was going to China for beaches, food, and Li River karsts. I got all of those things. What I didn't expect was how emotionally affecting the trip would be. The history — particularly around Shanghai — hit in ways that good travel sometimes does.

extraordinary ancient history was the moment that crystallised it. Standing there, eating dim sum I'd bought from a street vendor, something clicked about why travel matters. 15 days and I came home genuinely changed. Some places do that to you.