Time flies by. My co-anchoring experience is coming to an end. Before the trip wraps up, the whole crew got to taste the country’s finest rice for the first time. Yes, RICE!

This comes as Erica, my co-host, and the crew were doing a show in the city of Wuchang, known for its agricultural produce.

We were treated to this really delicious meal. The debate of a rice person vs a noodle person aside,  no one would say no to the sweet, flagrant Wuchang rice. But also the typical northeast home cooking in general, whether Chinese sauerkraut with pork or Di San Xian (fried potato, eggplant and pepper), they just make our mouths water.

People often refer to the northeast as the old industrial base, but we want to ring the bell that the NE is so much more than the greedy oil fields and iron and steel factories. It is also an area that produces some of the tastiest gourmet food.

Of course, food is a remedy for all, given the fatigue we’ve been feeling on this trip. But how awesome is it to have a sweet ride in an automobile factory that is 40 years old?

Erica and I just had this experience. We sat in a Hongqi vehicle, the iconic car brand in China, and yet, it is far from famous to people outside China. We want to show our viewers what it’s like to ride in a luxury car that’s 100 percent made in China.

These moments will always stick in my memory as I carry on my journey. It’s these fond reflections that make me more aware of the beauty of NE China. 

As many still hold a bias and stereotypes about the rust belt – complaining about its unattractive business environment and sluggish economy, I choose to see it in a different and more positive light.