Foreign visitors from countries including Germany, Ukraine, Greece, South Korea, Vietnam and Iran shared their impressions of Guangxi after a six-day trip to the cities of Nanning, Wuzhou and Guilin from Oct 24 to 29.

Khani Fariba, Javanmardi Ehsan and Mohammad Saiyedul Islam (L to R) take a cruise on the Lijiang River in Guilin. [Photo by Li Xijing/chinadaily.com.cn]  

"It's so fantastic journey on Lijiang River that I have never seen before. The combination of karst mountains and the river with Chinese traditional villages made a dreamy place for traveling," said Khani Fariba, a geologist from Iran.

"I have never been in Guangxi before, and right now I have a lot regret. How can I forget my great memories in this unique place? Unique not only in China but also all around the world," Fariba added.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, a photographer from Bangladesh, said it was a great honor to be invited to the event. "I'm glad to share the history, development and scenic beauty of Guangxi to the world through by social media," Ahmed said.

"The history of Long March by the Red Army amazed me a lot and I pay tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their life for the cause of nation. I'm also speechless by the outstanding beauty of Lijiang River, it will be in my memory forever and I would like to come back again and again," Ahmed added. 

Kosima Weber Liu, an ecologist from Germany, tries Chinese calligraphy. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Guangxi has become a hub on the timeline of history, connecting and preserving traditional knowledge and advanced technology," said Kosima Weber Liu, a German ecologist.

"Uniquely positioned in a biodiversity hotspot, Guangxi is living up to its full potential by not only protecting its natural resources, but also advancing sustainable system approaches like the Lijiang ecotourism watershed management,” Kosima said.

"It is with great interest and joy to see socially led programs for village cluster developments through promoting local produce and inclusive tourism as an expression of the way of traditional life while raising living standards for all its members in a well-balanced manner," she added.

"When you see the beautiful tea hills of Wuzhou, one understands that they have remained such thanks to minimal human intervention during the cultivation of the tea leaves," said Alexandra Alexandrou, a scholar from Greece.

She was also amazed by the scenery on the Lijiang River. "I wish that the world can also see what we witnessed in Guangxi and be inspired the way I was. This is a bright example of how our planet will cater to us if we also in turn protect it," she said.

"The trip gives me an opportunity to make new friends, enjoy fantastic sceneries and taste local foods. I also gain more knowledge on culture and history of Guangxi," said Nguyen Dinh Hoa, a Vietnamese teacher who works with Nanning Normal University. 

"This memorable trip brings us all over the world together. I'm looking forward to visit the charming cities again," Nguyen added. 

Kim Min Jung, a calligraphy professor from South Korea, experiences tea picking in Wuzhou during the trip. [Photo by Li Xijing/chinadaily.com.cn]