How it all began

The story began five years ago with a village trip that completely changed the trajectory of my life.

 

By chance, I found myself in a Dong village in Qiandongnan, Guizhou, China. The village was celebrating the appointment of a new village head with a long-table banquet stretching from one end of the village to the other. Everyone was bustling with activity, preparing for the feast by laying out ingredients on the ground or tables, washing vegetables, and cutting meat. Out of curiosity, I asked what was happening and was warmly invited to join the banquet later that evening. That night, I cooked, ate, and shared the villagers' joy with many strangers who soon felt like friends.

 

The Dong village, nestled by the mountains and water, retained its traditional wooden architecture. The wooden houses clustered around the drum tower, creating a close-knit community where stepping out of one home immediately brought you to another. This proximity fostered a sense of closeness among the villagers. Wandering through the village often turned into visiting and chatting with neighbors because the people were incredibly hospitable. They would always ask, "Ji gou mei?" (Have you eaten?). If you hadn't, they would invite you into their homes to share a meal, never allowing a guest to go hungry. The village was remote with no hotels or restaurants, and combined with the villagers' hospitality, I found myself eating, drinking, and staying in their homes, accumulating many favors. After that trip, I kept thinking about how I could repay their kindness. On my second visit, my partner and I returned with cameras, aiming to document the people and their stories.

 

What started as a brief visit turned into five years of travel. Our journey took us from Qiandongnan to other parts of Guizhou, from southwest China to the northwest, northeast, and eventually to Central Asia, West Asia, and Africa. We were captivated by the charm of indigenous cultures and continually amazed by cultural diversity. At the same time, we realized that in the face of modernity, we all become spiritual refugees, searching for a sense of belonging in the empty spaces of our homes. In these ancient tribes, I found a place where my heart felt at peace. This is how Small Roads came into being. We trade space for time, taking the less traveled paths to observe, experience, and live "another parallel world." We listen to the cultures and stories there. I firmly believe that culture becomes understood through exchange and communication, fostering more tolerance and love, and less stubbornness and prejudice.

 

In the days ahead, I look forward to embarking on new adventures with brave souls like you, exploring together.

 

 

Duan Yijin