A man, surnamed Guo, prepares to enter Beijing Railway Station to travel home to Heilongjiang province on Jan 17, 2017. [Photo/IC]

Guo is a university student in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. He chose to take one year off to travel before his last academic year. Carrying a backpack, Guo set out from Guangzhou and went to many provinces in the Southwest, Northwest and Central China. He lived for some time in every city he visited.

"Some famous scenic spots are too commercialized and lack local characteristics, while some small places, though unknown to many, keep local traditional culture well and have their own taste," Guo said. He thinks he learned a lot during the journey.