Tongren

Tongren is the easternmost prefecture-level city of Guizhou, set among the green karst mountains where the province meets Hunan and Chongqing. Its economy blends agriculture, tea growing, ecological industries and a booming tourism sector, all built around its natural heritage. The crown jewel is Fanjing Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China's most sacred Buddhist peaks, famous for its cloud-wreathed Mushroom Stone and rare golden snub-nosed monkeys. The city is home to a large Tujia and Miao population, whose sour-soup cuisine, cured meats and festivals define local culture, while Tongren University serves as the main institution of higher learning. For an international student, Tongren offers spectacular mountain scenery, rich ethnic-minority traditions, a mild climate and an affordable, unhurried pace of life.