After getting off the bus, we were greeted at a gate by a group of people from the Dong ethnic group: a man flanked on both sides by beautiful girls dressed in colorful, traditional costumes standing in front of a table of bowls filled with rice wine. They sang us a song backed by the sounds of a Dong pipa — a traditional lute of the Dong people. Then the girls picked up the bowls and brought them to their guests. The girls raised bowls of rice wine to my lips, and after I finished sipping the sweet spirit, they smiled and welcomed me to China.

We were then led through something of an obstacle course where we jumped over bamboo poles. From there, the girls went onstage and performed several spectacular dance routines, and then, as the guests of honor, we lit a ceremonial bonfire and danced around it, holding hands while music played.

In the midst of this celebration, my mind couldn't help but wonder, "How is this my life? How did I get so lucky to be part of something so unique, fun, and life-affirming?"

However, I didn't daydream for long; I wanted to be fully present for the gift that was being bestowed upon me. To be welcomed so warmly and graciously, and to take part in these cultural traditions rooted in 5,000 years of civilization, is not something that I take for granted.

Experiences like this are a reminder that you cannot live life through a phone screen. You simply cannot feel like I did because of a video on social media. No drone footage will allow you to breathe the crisp mountain air as you gaze out over the clouds. And no description, not even by an incredibly gifted writer such as myself, can convey the warmth of the people who greet you with open arms, eager to share their culture with you.

Go to colorful Guizhou for yourself and experience all it has to offer.

For a Wow! China experience, visit China Bound