In 2015, I left my hometown in the U.S. to start an adventure in China. This idea was sparked in December of 2008, when I visited my extended family in Northeast China and witnessed the transformation the country was undergoing. I’ll never forget the energy still lingering in the air (or maybe it was the pollution from all the construction) from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, when China was “coming out” as a leading player onto the world stage. Every city I visited—from Shanghai to Jilin—was undergoing massive construction; essentially, entire cities were construction sites (it’s estimated that from 2011 to 2014, more concrete was poured in China than in the entirety of the 20th century in the U.S.).

So, in the summer of 2015, with a secondhand suitcase, a tattered backpack, and my newly earned university diploma, I went back to China—starting an adventure to learn about the complexities of a changing nation, and also to learn more about myself.

Over the years, through stories, audio recordings, and photos, I have captured some of my experiences interacting with the people, cultures, and traditions of China, as well as other places where I have journeyed.

I welcome you to join me on my travels.

-Daniel