Foreign guests explore heartland of China

A group of visitors see how handpulled noodles are made. Photos provided to China Daily

When Aidana Mukhametgaliyeva saw a notice in China Daily offering writers and photographers the chance to visit Shanxi province, she had no hesitation in applying to go.

Mukhametgaliyeva, 21, from Kazakhstan, who is studying at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, had never been to Shanxi. The capital, Taiyuan, is little more than three hours by high-speed train from Beijing.

"Shanxi is a good place to visit, especially if you live in a big city such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou," she said as she returned from the trip, which ran from June 15 to 19.

"I think it's one of the must-see places in China."

In organizing the trip, China Daily and Shanxi Tourism Bureau sought non-Chinese good at writing and photography who would visit and report on some of the province's many places of interest. Fourteen people were chosen this time. It is the fourth time such trips have been organized since last year.

Among the itineraries were Pingyao ancient town, Mianshan Mountain, and well-preserved courtyards of rich merchants in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.