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In a personal account of life in China, Lizzy shares reasons she has stayed, with Kunming as her home base. She talks about helpful people, the city's clean air and skies, regional food, transport and everyday conveniences such as ordering groceries or medicine through apps. She also discusses cultural diversity, the challenge of language, affordability, teaching English and her experience of safety. Her points come from her own life, including time spent in China during COVID-19 restrictions and her comparison with South Africa.
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Why Lizzy chose Kunming
Lizzy's video, titled “10 reasons why CHINA keeps me here,” is a personal account of the experiences that have made China feel like home. She describes people as warm and helpful, while also mentioning that some people stare because they are not used to seeing foreigners. When she needs help, she says she has been treated with respect. Her observations reflect her own encounters rather than a guarantee that every visitor will have the same experience.
Kunming is central to her story. Lizzy appreciates its air and skies and says that walking around the city is part of daily life. She describes transportation as easy to use, mentioning shared bikes and ride-hailing services. Food is another reason she enjoys living there: she likes the range of regional cuisines and compares it favorably with what she ate in South Africa. She recalls starting with fast food before gradually trying local dishes and discovering flavors she now enjoys.
Daily convenience, culture and work
Lizzy demonstrates how she orders food, groceries and medicine through mobile apps. Shared bikes and ride-hailing are readily available in the communities she knows, and she notes that convenience stores and pharmacies are usually nearby. She also points to the low prices she finds for fruits and vegetables in markets. These everyday details help explain why she describes life as convenient and affordable.
She values the country's cultural diversity, referring to its 56 ethnic groups, traditions and festivals. The language can be challenging, but that difficulty is also part of her experience. During strict COVID-19 restrictions, she found herself traveling around China and says the experience gave her a deeper understanding of the country.
Her job as a foreign English teacher is another positive part of her account. She says foreign teachers are valued and describes the role as involving little pressure, with Chinese staff supporting the classroom. Finally, she compares her sense of safety in China with her experience in South Africa. She says she feels comfortable walking at night and is glad to call China home. These are Lizzy's own reasons and impressions, shaped by her work and daily life in Kunming.
Lizzy's account also includes the chapter on her COVID-19 experience, which she describes as an unexpected period of travel and discovery. She explains that she appreciated the opportunity to see more of China during that time, while the video frames the period as part of her own story. Her chapter sequence also includes the benefits of night walks after meals: she likes Kunming's cool evening breeze and the markets she can visit. Those walks connect her feelings about health and safety with ordinary routines in the city. She says she feels comfortable going out at night, a contrast she draws with her experience in South Africa. The account is personal and tied to the places and communities she knows.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Why does Lizzy like living in Kunming?
- A: She values the helpful people, clean air and skies, convenient transport, varied food and the ease of everyday services in Kunming.
- Q: What daily services does she find convenient?
- A: She says food, groceries and medicine can be ordered through apps, and she also uses shared bikes and ride-hailing services.
- Q: What does Lizzy say about teaching English in China?
- A: She describes foreign English teachers as valued, says the job involves little pressure, and notes that Chinese staff members support the classroom.
- Q: How does she describe safety?
- A: From her own experience, she feels comfortable walking at night in China and compares that feeling with her experience in South Africa.