A traveler who randomly selected China by throwing a dart at a map says it became their favorite destination ever - surpassing traditional Southeast Asia favorites like Thailand.
Despite losing both phone and passport during the trip, they're now "China's n1 advocate" and recommending lesser-known destinations like Yangshuo over the usual Beijing-Shanghai circuit.
"When I tell you, China is one of, if not my FAVOURITE place I've ever been to," the traveler posted to r/backpacking. "I love everything about it, from the people, to the food, the amount of things there are to do."
China isn't typically on the budget backpacker circuit. For decades, Southeast Asia has dominated as the go-to region for first-time backpackers and budget travelers - affordable, well-established hostel networks, easy visa policies, and well-trodden routes from Bangkok to Bali.
But things are changing. China has eased travel restrictions significantly in recent years, expanding visa-free transit programs and making it easier for tourists to navigate a country that once felt impenetrable to independent travelers.
The traveler stayed for about 3 weeks and "didn't see even nearly all of China," planning to return soon. Their favorite place? Yangshuo - a small city in Guangxi Province surrounded by karst limestone mountains that most Western tourists have never heard of.
"It's a place not many people know about called Yangshuo," they wrote. "I'd definitely recommend going there if you haven't already, it's amazing."
