With China's expanding visa-free policies, more foreigners are traveling to the country, creating a "China travel" buzz on social media.

On July 11 and 12, Mango TV aired a special episode of Diva Hits the Road, featuring Chinese actress Zhao Zhaoyi as a tour guide. She led a five-day cultural exploration in Central China's Hunan Province with friends from Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia.

During their journey, the international friends immersed themselves in China's rich cultural heritage and witnessed the modern transformation of its rural areas. The trip also showcased the vibrant fusion of culture and tourism in China's countryside.

For the first two days of their trip, Zhao introduced international friends to local flavors at Wenheyou, a famous restaurant in Changsha, and captured scenic moments at Orange Isle scenic spot. Zhao also arranged a traditional Chinese massage for them, allowing her friends to experience Chinese wellness practices.

The international guests were impressed with China's modern amenities, such as food delivery robots.

They also visited Zhangjiajie, in the northwest of Hunan Province, which is one of the World Natural Heritage sites in China and was also a destination on the Thai friend's wish list. The breathtaking natural beauty prompted repeated exclamations of "Amazing!"

Beyond the bustling city of Changsha, Zhao also guided her friends to Qingxi Village in Yiyang, Hunan. Known for its natural scenery, the village epitomizes rural revitalization and cultural heritage. They visited the Qingxi exhibition hall, learning about the evolution of the village's economy from self-sufficient farming in the 1950s and '60s to modern tourism.

In the intangible cultural heritage exhibition hall, intricate bamboo crafts and paper-cutting showcased the village's deep cultural roots.

During a meal, they tried Qingxi Village's famous crayfish, developed by a local PhD-led team using advanced breeding techniques to boost the economy. The group later donned traditional attire for commemorative photos. Zhao also prepared elegant Hanfu outfits, and the friends learned about historical clothing from different dynasties.