I spent CNY in rural China with strangers

I journeyed solo to a town I'd never heard of, to spend Chinese New Year with a family I had never met. I put more effort than usual into this video because the experience was so special. I hope you enjoy watching.
0:00 Coming up
1:15 Backstory
3:18 The Journey Begins
4:50 Nayun Town
5:35 On the way to meet the family
6:10 The Coffee Shop
6:50 Avocado Coffee
7:00 Heading up into the mountains
9:35 Dinner with a view
11:12 New Years Eve in a small Chinese town
12:57 Some very surprised locals
13:25 Fresh Food Market
13:43 What to bring to dinner?
14:27 A change of plans...
15.12 In the car on the way to dinner
16:11 I was the only one who dressed up
16:47 Learning each others languages
18:14 What have I learned from this experience?

Пікірлер: 70

  • @heheheke09
    @heheheke092 ай бұрын

    People are genine and freindly, that's make us as human. Thank you China

  • @nadiak2599
    @nadiak25992 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing these videos Jake. Unlike many parts of the world, it's great that there're stil many places like this in China, where it is safe to travel to places surrounded by people you'd never met.. where people are genuine and friendly. Enjoy and please keep sharing.

  • @quietlives
    @quietlives2 ай бұрын

    Menglian is a beautiful town. The moment I arrived there, I decided to extend my stay.

  • @kakajusaiyy
    @kakajusaiyy2 ай бұрын

    Really good videos! Fantastic musics

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Finding songs is the part where I probably spend the most time

  • @raideepu4
    @raideepu42 ай бұрын

    "We all put our pants on one leg at a time". Yeah, we are all human beings.

  • @biglance
    @biglance18 сағат бұрын

    Yi women are beautiful, good job on getting there, peace.

  • @lynchlee7207
    @lynchlee72072 ай бұрын

    哇,森山,你最后总结的话虽然是用英语说的,但是我能从文字中感觉出来你真的是抒发了真情实感,有一种很独特的诗意。

  • @ZhuLongPeng
    @ZhuLongPeng2 ай бұрын

    Wow! So 森山 is your chinese name! good! Thanks for your sharing CNY to the people across the world.

  • @yapsiauwsoengie6507

    @yapsiauwsoengie6507

    2 ай бұрын

    Google translate identify it as japanese Moriyama tho

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    You're right! I didn't realise it was a Japanese name until long after I arrived. I just chose it because I love forests 森林 and mountains 山 😁

  • @ZhuLongPeng

    @ZhuLongPeng

    2 ай бұрын

    @@thejourneyofjake Good name! In China, 森 and 山 indicate that they can create everything in the world!

  • @tristans7153
    @tristans71532 ай бұрын

    Wow, really great video. I miss China.

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @user-qo1eo8he7n
    @user-qo1eo8he7n2 ай бұрын

    喜欢这种娓娓道来的叙事方式

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    我为配音脚本付出了很多心血,所以看到你的评论我很高兴,谢谢你。

  • @grahamhines6528
    @grahamhines65282 ай бұрын

    Great video Jake. I can’t wait for the next one. Great insights into the cultural differences while pointing out the fundamental human similarities.

  • @beautifuldream108
    @beautifuldream1082 ай бұрын

    Cherries 🍒 is red and apple for safe and sound meaning... So you are bringing a safety to family for the whole year. 😊

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Oh I see, thanks!

  • @ajs-qv5fe
    @ajs-qv5fe2 ай бұрын

    great video, jake, you are so lucky and the chinese ppl are super hospitable and accommodating, the free bus ride is epic

  • @techjunkie1815

    @techjunkie1815

    2 ай бұрын

    It’s Asian culture in general… be respectful and respect is returned to you✌️

  • @ajs-qv5fe

    @ajs-qv5fe

    2 ай бұрын

    @@techjunkie1815 yes, thats the experience i had when i visited china, the chinese ppl are so easy to get along, no baggage, love it, but i really hate the spitting 😬😬😬

  • @tlforge3446
    @tlforge34462 ай бұрын

    Mate, such great video!!!

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Glad you enjoyed it!

  • @garethl738
    @garethl7382 ай бұрын

    You’re one adventurous guy. You’re really open to new experiences. Loved your video. 👍🏼

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks heaps 😀

  • @antiimperialism2739
    @antiimperialism27392 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to more travelogues from remote areas of China.

  • @anjunadeep.8384

    @anjunadeep.8384

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank you for documenting and sharing with us a different side of CHINA. Am a big fan ! Keep up the good work.!

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Plenty more to come

  • @aprianto1985
    @aprianto19852 ай бұрын

    Great explore

  • @amandagrant4331
    @amandagrant43312 ай бұрын

    China is a very good country

  • @lynchlee7207
    @lynchlee72072 ай бұрын

    very beautiful

  • @revenchou8798
    @revenchou87982 ай бұрын

    If you are still in China next year, you are welcome to visit my hometown in the countryside in southern Anhui for the New Year! We have the custom of bench dragons, which is very interesting! The atmosphere there is completely different from Yunnan. I am glad that you enjoyed your time in China!

  • @LW78321
    @LW783212 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed your journey exploring new places. Really loved the part where you were teaching the locals English and they were teaching you their home dialect 😊

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Isn't language fun? Glad you liked it

  • @Camus886
    @Camus88622 күн бұрын

    You Chinese improve a lot❤Great job

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    22 күн бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @garethl738
    @garethl7382 ай бұрын

    From 15:42 - 15:47, the architecture looks quite similar to northern Thai or Laotian. Very interesting that folks in Yunnan and Thailand / Laos share similarities

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Definitely some similarities, hey? Beautiful parts of the world

  • @Tinpinming
    @Tinpinming2 ай бұрын

    i'm reeeeeally liking your vids =)

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thank youuuu

  • @Pink-Sushi-jp
    @Pink-Sushi-jp2 ай бұрын

    So remote and inaccessible but the coffee house looks touristy

  • @puweiting
    @puweiting46 минут бұрын

    ❤❤😂😂🎉🎉

  • @user-ie3vy8nl3b
    @user-ie3vy8nl3bАй бұрын

    Hi Jake, often see you in XMU, didn't expect to see your video on youtube😊

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    Ай бұрын

    Say hi next time! 👋😁

  • @ivanzhang7314
    @ivanzhang7314Ай бұрын

    An excellent journey, Yunnan people are always very hospitable, which reminds me of my experience of going to Yunnan more than a decade ago.

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    Ай бұрын

    Definitely agree! Such a beautiful place

  • @jarekweng8562
    @jarekweng85622 ай бұрын

    HAHA,the bus you took actually made in Xiamen ,"Gloden Dragon"

  • @user-ie3vy8nl3b
    @user-ie3vy8nl3bАй бұрын

    Hi Jake, often see you in XMU, didn't expect to see your video on youtube

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    7 күн бұрын

    Say hi next time 👋

  • @chrislarry05
    @chrislarry052 ай бұрын

    牛啊老哥

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    谢谢🙏

  • @mechannel7046
    @mechannel70462 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed your video. Sub'd

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    I'm glad! Thanks

  • @michaeljiang960
    @michaeljiang9602 ай бұрын

    Fantastic video, you have the advantage of speaking mandarin and be able to communicate with the locals. You deserve much more followers. Open an account in Bilibili and/or Toutiao please.

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the kind words! 🙏 My Billi Billi is 韩森山在中国. I actually haven't heard of Toutiao - is that similar to b站?

  • @michaeljiang960

    @michaeljiang960

    2 ай бұрын

    @@thejourneyofjake Toutiao is the sister app of Douyin. B站is Bilibili.

  • @ITeachChinese
    @ITeachChinese2 ай бұрын

    The pronunciations of apple and peace in Chinese are similar. Having an apple means having peace.

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    That makes sense! How about cherries?

  • @user-fi7xr2ye5p

    @user-fi7xr2ye5p

    24 күн бұрын

    The colors of cherries are red and purple, which usually mean luck and happiness​@@thejourneyofjake

  • @user-rs6eh2so2q
    @user-rs6eh2so2q2 ай бұрын

    拍的真好,b站有账号吗,应该有百万粉丝

  • @lynchlee7207

    @lynchlee7207

    2 ай бұрын

    这哥们对于中国人特有的那种感情理解的很深刻,不带任何先见之明的傲慢和理解

  • @okowell

    @okowell

    2 ай бұрын

    @@lynchlee7207 我理解有问题吗 不带任何先见之明的 傲慢和理解啥意思,好矛盾的一句话

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    我的b站是“韩森山在中国” 但这些视频不像 KZread 那样是最新的. 希望能尽快赶上

  • @LW78321
    @LW783212 ай бұрын

    What am I seeing at 1:47? Drone shots of farming fields?

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Those are actually the Yuanyang rice fields in southern Yunnan. Working on putting that video together soon!

  • @LW78321

    @LW78321

    2 ай бұрын

    @@thejourneyofjake thanks for clarifying! Looks really interesting

  • @Trumppower
    @Trumppower2 ай бұрын

    Yukkkk.. You need a strong stomach besides that OK video.

  • @jingsongyang876
    @jingsongyang8762 ай бұрын

    great Jake, did you go anywhere during may day holiday?

  • @thejourneyofjake

    @thejourneyofjake

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks! Nah i thought about it but everywhere was super expensive to travel. Just ended up staying on campus editing, still so many videos yet to edit 😅