A dreamer blessed with nostalgia and wanderlust

Will your path cross mine?
Instagram: @TheChinaDollAbroad

Current Mission
Spread love, joy and kindness
Viva la vida
Build myself up for the Pacific Crest Trail hopefully in 2025

Born and raised in the north of China, studied in England for university, travelled a fair bit in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Currently living in Canada but spending 6 months every year visiting family and exploring the planet

I admire nature and feel the most at home in mountains or by lakes
I favour autumn for the colours and winter for the snowfall
I smile at strangers, and pet every dog that passes by
I adore flowers and take pleasure in pretty little things in life

I enjoy slow train and scenic bus rides with locals
I choose hitchhiking whenever wherever I can
I do yoga. I run. I cycle

I strive to make life healthier and more sustainable
I care about environment and hate to see polar bears go homeless
I hope to grow my own garden one day

I cook random but nutritious meals and am eager to learn new recipes
I eat local and often grab snacks from the street
I love an occasional dose of caffeine
I drink with right people at right times
I make kefir and sourdough, and sometimes travel with them

I explore a city on foot and learn about a country from its people and cuisine
I embrace last-minute things and welcome adventures unfolded in unexpected ways
I buy no souvenirs but collect moments and create memories

I’m a minimalist on the road
I need a roof above my head and don’t care if it’s grass, floor, or Egyptian cotton under my back
Everything I carry stays in a 35L backpack, and I make sure it occupies the least used corner of the room I stay

My couch requests usually give a short notice. My answer to your way-ahead-of-time request is probably Maybe. Sorry about that
I reply every message and make effort to answer every question

I choose you because part of you and your life fascinates me. Please allow me to tag along for part of your day, or at least spare me a moment for a chat. I’m grateful for your company and the temporary permission to stay with you. I’m perfectly fine being independent in case you are busy. I expect no provided food, help with transport, or any kind of gifts other than your insider's tips and stories. Anything else you offer will be a generous hospitable gesture of you and a pleasant surprise for me. I’m easily impressed. I’m happy to cook and share, help with cleaning and tidying up. It would be a pleasure to house sit, pet sit, and/or plant sit if I’m coming to your city while you are away

I accept you because I’m touched by your words, or you have triggered my curiosity or compassion. I’m here to help, with open arms and an open mind. The accommodation is simple, definitely clean and hopefully comfortable enough for you. If I cook, I share with you half. If I attend any event, I invite you to come along. I can’t be a full time tour guide and I don’t consider myself knowledgeable enough to make a good one. You don’t have to return the favour. It’s nice to pay it forward to someone else so the community can expand. No gifts are expected but a postcard when you get home is highly appreciated

I want to meet you because I feel a connection and foresee a bud of friendship. Common interests, common goals, common lifestyle, common friends, or completely different ones. I’m confident that we will have a good conversation and a few interesting hours wondering and wandering together

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To meet locals
To collect stories
To discover hidden gems
To experience different cultures
To see the beauty in a stranger’s eye
To offer and have a home away from home

Interests

I chase sunsets
I enjoy sun salutations at dawn
I never say no to a hike, rain or shine
I can’t refuse ice cream, hot chocolate, soft cookies, or a homemade meal
I love to be in nature, camp by a lake, fall asleep to a fire, wake up to an orange sunrise, walk on fallen leaves, and gaze at the starry sky
I’d like to go for a ride on the back of your motorbike, and visit your favourite cafe, bakery, bar, and the neighbour you grew up in
I want to learn your grandma’s best cake recipe. It will be a huge honour and pleasure to meet your family

• animals
• photography
• documentaries
• baking
• yoga
• running
• hiking
• camping
• hitchhiking
• lakes
• mountains
• nature
• street food
• people watching
• campfires
• sunsets
• roadtrips
• sunflowers
• sustainable living
• walking in nature

Music, Movies, and Books

Music
Folk Rock, Classic Rock, and a bit Deep House and Techno

Films
Documentaries. True story based films. Oldie goodies from Hong Kong, and dramas with nice twists and an unexpected ending.
Seven.
Happy Together.
Ashes of Time.
Metade Fumaca.
Time and Tide.
Grave of the Fireflies...

Books
Classics, simple but beautiful children stories, and heart wrenching fictions.
Dream of the Red Chamber.
The Little Prince.
Shadow of the Wind.
清醒纪.
Shantaram

I wrote this section in 2012 and never really updated it properly

I’m interested in your taste of music, films and books and appreciate your recommendations

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hiked in Tibet
Climbed Mount Ushba in Svaneti
Road trip across Canada from the Pacific to the Atlantic
Conquered Mount Musala
Hitchhiked across the Balkans
Saw lave at Volcán Masaya

Teach, Learn, Share

An old saying, a traditional custom, a childhood story, a family recipe, a pleasant chat, a secret...

What I Can Share with Hosts

Travel stories. Tons of silliness and laughter. Good ears for listening to whatever you would like to share. A meal. A corner of my heart filled with gratitude

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Northern Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Canada, China, England, Germany, Thailand

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