I recently took a tour of the beautiful Yunnan Province in southwest China. This tour came at a time I had spent about six months in lockdown on campus due to the global pandemic, COVID-19 epidemic.

Travelling to Yunnan was ideal. It allowed me to get acquainted with how the Chinese government is working to alleviate poverty there and I was able to explore the differences in Chinese ethnic groups.

I traveled from Malipo to Jinping counties, interacted with the locals and observed how they live in peace and harmony despite their ethnic differences.

I could differentiate them too by taking a closer look at their well-decorated traditional attires. These clothes are a symbol of their tradition that has been keeping them very close to one another for centuries. The colorful regalia shows their existence and passage of cultural values from one generation to the other. I took an opportunity to wear some just to appreciate their culture through dress. The neatly sown handmade clothes matched and fit perfectly. I looked like a traditional Chinese emperor, even though they were meant for traditional marriage ceremonies. Wearing these clothes gave me the confidence I needed to dine with the villagers to different Chinese cuisine.

It was kind of a family gathering. Each of us at the table had to say something as we passed on a bowl of rice to one another. At close intervals while eating, a toast was made with a glass of traditional Chinese brew called baijiu in praise of coexistence and unity. The more they toasted, the more I enjoyed their company. Then my turn came to say something. Interestingly, I managed to say something in basic mandarin although I wasn't sure if I had expressed myself right. I appreciated them for their hospitality, their time and the lessons that I had learned from their achievements, especially in the fight against poverty.

After giving our thanks, my colleagues and I were treated to an open air cultural performance. I loved it! It was flawless and well synchronized. The dance was to express their welcome for visitors and especially for foreigners who had traveled a long way to be with them. I joined in mimicking the words of the song and got into my feet to sway my body a little. This relieved my fatigue from the long journey. The dance was relaxing as the dancers provided guidance on the movement of my feet. In a few minutes, I was dancing to the tune of the song. I had managed to learn a new dancing skill.

As the party continued, I was invited to one of our hosts' home. This was the most memorable moment of the trip. The hospitality was amazing. From one street to the other, individuals waved their hands in greetings, some taking pictures and extending an invitation for me to visit their home. We were welcomed with smiles, and I sensed that for some they were both afraid and overwhelmed to meet foreigners for the first time, while others were excited to engage with us.

I managed to interact with some children who were eager to learn about my native country. I was also very keen to understand what they thought about me. I cannot forget the confidence in their face. They looked straight into my eyes whilst interacting with me. I thought they were reading my mind. I was later guided to a small room where local people preserve their artifacts and painting works, which are used for building their knowledge and appreciate beauty.

"Down to earth" is the phrase I can use to describe the people of Yunnan. Respect and love are the things they value most. Looking at the broader picture of what China had done to lift her people out of poverty, I agree with one of our hosts: To fight poverty, you need to appreciate what you have in your hands and work hard for the common good of your community. 

The author is a PhD candidate from Kenya studying at the Communication University of China

(Print Edition Title:Yunnan Through My Lens)