The Problem With China’s Ancient Towns…

Is the "Disney-fication" of China’s ancient history actually saving it? Today, we are in Zhenyuan Ancient Town (Guizhou Province), a 2,000-year-old military outpost that has been transformed into a modern tourism powerhouse. Many travelers skip these spots, calling them "fake" or "too commercial." But after 24 hours of exploring the backstreets, climbing the temples, and—most importantly—eating the food, I realized there is a much deeper story here. From the cyberpunk neon lights at night to the candid reality of how tourism lifts locals out of poverty, this is the side of China you don't often see on the news. Join me as we eat the famous Sour Fish Soup, climb the Black Dragon Cave, and debate whether "new" history is better than no history at all.