1200 miles away from Beijing, a wilderness thumps in the night. Students from 10 countries ventured into China's wild west, to Ganzi and Aba, which make up the country's second largest Tibetan prefecture. What they experienced during that first week of August, was beyond their imaginations.

　　First thing's first, feast! The locals from Danba, in Ganzi, invited the travelers from far away to indulge in wholesome home-cooked meals. They tasted unique vegetables, sweet meats, and long tablefuls of local dishes. One explorer, Minigalin, was brought back home to Russia in an instant, with every bite of a familiar potato dish.

　　The crew, still mesmerized by Ganzi and Aba's natural beauty, took a wonderful turn into a studio at a major artist hub in Danba, where they saw that scenery behind a Buddha, framed on the wall. Sima, an art lover from Iran, was thrilled to meet with a master and learn about Thangka, or Tibetan Buddhist Painting. After looking around the decorated studio, the students felt the same spirit of exchanging ideas in art communities around the world. They asked questions, shared opinions, and had conversations until they lost track of time. For Sima, the enriching experience really helped hone her perspective. Familiar with an abundance of nature in Iran's art works, she was inspired by the culture of persistently portraying the many faces of Buddha in Thangka.

　　During the short week, the group of 20 quickly became good friends, not only with each other, but with the locals as well. In the wild hilltops, over 200 miles away from Chengdu in neighboring Sichuan, the travelers found the same warmth and hospitality they're used to in their hometowns. They shared the folks' spirit to celebrate life through the universal language of song and dance. Despite the modernization of many areas in Ganzi and Aba, its diverse ethnicities seemed to share a common culture in that celebration, no different from much of the world. They sang and danced in the clutch of the town's romance.

　　After the short week, the explorers said reluctant farewells to the locals and their unwavering affection. They thanked I'm In China Project for helping them find a bit of home in a far away place, and sharing with them unforgettable stories with new friends to share with old ones, back home.