Editor's Note: The following is a travel log by Dawit Mesfin, a journalist from Ethiopia and deputy CEO at Fana Broadcasting Corporate, who joined a group of 10 expats for the 4th "Explore Gansu" trip earlier this month. The trip featured visits to the cities of Dingxi, Tianshui and Longnan in Northwest China's Gansu province.

Expats  pose for a photo outside the Longxi Medicinal Herb Garden in Longxi county, Dingxi, Gansu province. [Photo provied to gogansu.com]

China, a land of ancient civilization, boasts a rich history spanning millennia. Its heritage encompasses art, architecture, music, trade, and—most remarkably—medicine. While I had long read about these wonders, I had the rare chance to experience them firsthand. What I discovered on my journey to Gansu Province left an indelible mark, particularly my encounter with traditional Chinese medicine, a practice as ancient as the country itself.

Thanks to a generous educational opportunity provided by the Chinese government, I traveled to Beijing on Aug 31, 2024, to study at the Communication University of China. Alongside fellow students from across Africa, I was welcomed warmly, and within a week, an exciting adventure awaited us—an immersive tour of Gansu Province, accompanied by three Chinese communication students.