From Ancient Forests to Gentle Giants: A Global Traveler’s Diary
This summer, Sandra Churabaeva—known to friends as Meili (美丽)—ventured deep into China’s natural wonders, uncovering a profound connection between humanity and the environment. Her journey, part of CGTN’s ‘One Home: A Shared Future’ youth initiative, took her from Chengdu’s thunderous forests to the jungles of Yunnan’s Xishuangbanna, where elephants reign. 🌳
Whispers of the Ancient Forest
In Chengdu, Sandra stood beneath towering trees older than empires. ‘The forest doesn’t need people,’ she reflects, ‘but we need it.’ Her words echo a universal truth: in a world obsessed with speed, nature reminds us to pause, breathe, and remember our place in the web of life. 🌲✨
Elephants & Enlightenment
In Xishuangbanna, Sandra met the true icons of resilience: wild elephants. These gentle giants, symbols of harmony in Chinese culture, became her summer muses. ‘They move with patience,’ she writes, ‘like a poem written by the earth itself.’ 🐘📜
Her story isn’t just a travelogue—it’s a call to see nature not as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing companion. As Sandra puts it: ‘We’re all just fleeting moments in these ancient landscapes. But what beautiful moments we can be.’ 🌍💫
