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Voices of Inspiration
Voices of Inspiration is a travel podcast that goes beyond the guidebook. Hosted by Amelia Old, each episode centers on the people who give a destination its soul—travelers with transformative stories, locals who call these places home, tourism professionals shaping how we experience them, and others whose work or lives are deeply connected to a place.
Through candid conversations, Amelia uncovers the moments, challenges, and personal histories that reveal what a destination is truly like. These aren't surface-level travel tips—they're stories about identity, belonging, resilience, and discovery. The kind that help you understand not just what a place is, but why it matters to the people who know it best.
At its core, this podcast is about connection: how travel brings us face-to-face with perspectives we might never encounter otherwise, and how every destination becomes richer once you've heard the voices behind it.
Voices of Inspiration
Yinxing Guli in Changxing, China | The Ginkgo Corridor
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I walked into a small building outside my homestay in Changxing County without really knowing what I was about to experience. What started as a simple spa treatment turned into something much deeper—a quiet lesson in slowing down. Sitting in a traditional herbal bath, with nothing to distract me but my own thoughts, I realized how uncomfortable it can be to simply be still. That moment became the beginning of a conversation about presence, hospitality, and the ways different cultures approach rest and connection.
In this episode, I travel to the famous Ginkgo Corridor in Zhejiang, China, where thousands of ancient ginkgo trees stretch through the valley—some more than a thousand years old. I sit down with Zhou Junbei, the owner of Yingxing Guli Homestay, who left city life behind to build a place rooted in family values, community, and meaningful experiences for travelers. We talk about the inspiration behind her homestay, the symbolism of the ginkgo tree, and why creating moments that bring people together may be the most important work of all.
Episode Highlights
[00:00] – I arrive at a spa treatment without knowing what to expect and quickly discover how difficult it can be to slow down and sit quietly with my thoughts.
[02:07] – I introduce Changxing County and the famous Ginkgo Corridor, home to tens of thousands of ancient ginkgo trees.
[03:29] – I meet Zhou Junbei, owner of Yingxing Guli Homestay, and hear the story behind how her homestay began.
[07:54] – Zhou shares how her upbringing in an artistic family shaped the values and atmosphere she brings to her homestay.
[10:29] – We talk about the symbolism of the ginkgo tree in Chinese culture and how its longevity reflects strength and resilience.
[12:31] – Zhou explains the seasonal experiences guests can enjoy—from herbal baths and traditional medicine therapies to tea picking in the mountains.
[15:41] – A powerful story about recognizing a guest’s severe allergic reaction reminds Zhou why caring for people like family matters.
[22:26] – I reflect on the kindness and small gestures that made my stay feel less like visiting and more like belonging.
Links and Resources
This episode is sponsored by China Eastern Airlines, who supported my travel for this journey. You can learn more about their routes and destinations at us.ceair.com.
For more information about Yinxing Guli Homestay and planning your own visit, you can find their listing here:
https://us.trip.com/hotels/changxing-hotel-detail-9055720/yinxing-guli-hotel/
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Website: https://AmeliaOld.com
If this episode stayed with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need a reminder to slow down. And if you enjoyed the episode, please follow, rate, and review Voices of Inspiration wherever you listen. Your support helps these stories reach more people around the world.
Herbal Bath Surprise
SPEAKER_02I walked into a small building just outside of the home stay without really knowing what I was about to do. They asked me if I wanted to participate in a spa treatment. So I said, sure, why not? And then I really just didn't know what to expect. My translator Joanna and I were taken into rooms next to each other and I was led into a bamboo-lined space with a deep soaking tub already filled and waiting. I was told that I would sit in the herbal bath for a set amount of time and then take my body out for the same amount of time and then repeat the cycle a few times. I was also given tea and just asked to keep drinking it. Then it went quiet. I wasn't on my phone, but I kept fidgeting, shifting my towel, wondering how much time had passed, and feeling ready to be done before I was actually done. And it wasn't because I wasn't enjoying the moment, but it was more because my body felt like it should be moving, it should be doing something. Sitting with my thoughts for that long took a lot more effort than I expected. This experience happened during my stay at Ying Xingu Homestay in Changxing County in China, where I spent time talking with the owner, Zhou Junbei. Throughout the conversation, Joanna translates, so you can hear Miss Zhou Junbei's story in her own words.
SPEAKER_01Everyone has a story to tell. We connect and relate to one another when we share our stories. My name is Melia Old, and I am your host of Voices of Inspiration. Join me as I share stories of friends, family, and strangers through my everyday life and travels. We will laugh, possibly cry, or walk away feeling connected more than ever to those around you and ready to be the change our world needs. Everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
SPEAKER_02I'm Amelia Old and this is Voices of Inspiration.
Ginkgo Corridor Context
SPEAKER_02Qingxing County sits in northern Zhejiang, close to the Jingsu border. It's not the part of China most travelers picture first, but it's known inside the country for one thing in particular, ginkgo trees. Qingxin is known for the ginkgo corridor that runs through this part of the county. The park stretches for more than 12 kilometers through the valley and includes tens and thousands of ginkgo trees. Many of them are already hundreds of years old. In autumn, people come here specifically to walk the corridor and spend time in the surrounding villages. There are small hotels and homestays scattered through the nearby towns, including the place where this conversation took place. This homestay is called Ying Xing Gulli. Ying Shing means ginggo.
SPEAKER_03Gulli means hometown. Her name is Jojin Bei. She is the owner of this place. She has two homestays, and this one, she's the owner of this one, the ancient hometown of the gingo tree, and nearby there is another homes homestay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02When people from other countries come to America, they always talk about how excited that they were because they saw it on TV and the movies. And so they thought that going to the States was like in a s in a story, in a film. And I wanted you to know, being here, I had that same feeling. And when I walk into your rooms and see the curtains open and see the surroundings, I asked myself out loud, is this real life? Am I really living here?
SPEAKER_03First of all, thank you for your sharing your feeling. And uh, you know, actually she has been working here for 10 years to do this business for 10 years from the city. Nowadays, the Chinese villagers are much more richer than what we expected to than before. When you work in the countryside, you see the village is so clean, yeah, right? And people are always smiling and they they are doing very well, actually, very happy, very lucky, very happy. And so nowadays the village life is totally different from maybe
Meet Zhou Junbei
SPEAKER_03twenty years ago or thirty years ago. She um spent a lot of time here. One half is working and one half is to living and you know, happy life.
SPEAKER_02What first inspired you to open your homestay here among these ancient trees? What connection do you feel personally to this particular area?
SPEAKER_00Uh what she the mean to ja ying sinkuria now.
SPEAKER_03Before uh she started this business, homestay, actually uh she's she was doing the tea industry, the tea, making tea and selling tea. And uh but she always had a heart or affection of the hometown. Uh we know this is a kind of homesickness or something like that. It's it's kind of feelings and uh uh she chose the name of Guli in Chinese, literally means hometown to be the name of the tea brand. About 10 years ago, she always had a dream of owning her homestay. And uh her elder sister asked her, Well, don't you want you operating a homestay? Well, I have a you know villa, a villa available for you, and then you can do that. And then she started this business. Actually, this house belongs to her elder sister. After building up this house, this villa, and she asked a lot of teachers or professionals to ask for the name of this homestay, and uh she got more than ten names. She felt she was not satisfied with this names and always had a heart, it's a deep heart in hometown, the ghoulie, and then say, wow, uh since my house, my homestay, just located in this area, and
From Tea To Homestay
SPEAKER_03this area is famous for the ancient gingo trees, the hometown of the gingo tree. Why not just call my homestead homestead of gingo tree home? Yeah. That's the name, Y Singuli. But actually, that's the t that's the story 10 years ago. And then when the government here, the government wants to choose a name and rename this part of the scenic spot, and the government said, Wow, you you used the hometown of the gingo tree? That's what we want to call this place. So um that's an interesting story, I think. The hometown.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I love that. What values or traditions from your own upbringing, your own life, maybe even as a child, have you tried to bring into the homestay?
SPEAKER_03First of all, I was born in a very well-educated family, and uh my grandfather, my father, my father now was a painter, is a painter. Yeah, uh ish he was an uh artist, yeah. And so when I grew up in such family, uh I think I was also have the good taste for the beauty, for the art. Yeah, this is the one thing. And the second thing, uh also when I grow up where um my parents, my family tells me how to treat people, how to treat your neighborhood. Yeah, that's another thing. And the third thing, uh, we I want to say the gingo tree. You know, the gingo tree in Chinese culture it's a symbol of longevity. You know, in this corridor, this is the what 10 miles, uh 10 miles of the gingo tree corridor. Uh here there are totally more than 30,000 gingo trees. And among these, there are more than 2,400 gingo trees, which were 100 years, more than 100 years. We also see, you know, the king of the gingo tree 1,300 years old, and another queen of gingo tree, also 1,200 years. So the gingo trees are the symbol of the longevity. You can live long. It's kind of sustainable uh development, I think. And also it's um energy, uh, it's a power from the life. I am strong women. And uh once I meet some problems or questions, I say, no, I messed it to solve it. I won't be afraid of any challenges or questions or difficulties. That's that's the suit of case. That's a piece of cake. I can conquer it. I'm a strong woman, just like the gingo tree.
SPEAKER_02Oh, I love that. I feel like I can relate to that um a great deal in my own life, so I love that. I want to take a moment for a quick break. We'll be right back. Today's episode is supported by China Eastern Airlines. They offer three nonstop routes from the United States to Shanghai Pudong, which is how I traveled while working on this series. China Eastern is headquartered
Values Shaping The Homestay
SPEAKER_02in Shanghai and is one of China's major international carriers. The airline operates 108 domestic and overseas branches worldwide and serves destinations across China, Asia, Europe, and other global regions. They're also a member of the Sky Team Alliance, partnering with airlines such as Delta and allowing SkyMiles members to earn and use miles across participating carriers. On international flights, China Eastern offers three cabins of service: first-class suites, business class, and economy. Long haul routes include entertainment screens and Wi-Fi is available for purchase. If you're planning travel to Shanghai or exploring future international trips, you can find current schedules and booking information on the China Eastern Airlines website, which I'll link in the notes of this episode. Can you tell me what a visitor can expect when they come here? Um I was very fortunate, um lucky that I was able to experience some of this today with the the spa treatments. So can you just explain just a little bit of of what a visitor can experience when they are here?
SPEAKER_03Actually, um we our homestay is not the best one, what I think, because there are so many modern homestays around here nowadays, more and more, right? We try to offer different kinds of experience to the customers, to our guests. In different seasons. Uh for example in um October in autumn, just now we experience uh such kind of herbal bath, right, and a kind of Chinese traditional medicine therapy. This is especially popular in winter and in uh in autumn and in spring the guests can experience the tea picking,
Sponsor: China Eastern Airlines
SPEAKER_03yeah, and climbing to the tea mountain, have and and they can learn how to make the tea very traditional way. So in different seasons they there are different kinds of experienced activities. You know, there is an saying in China, or uh we often say uh a person or a human being in this life. The experience is very, very important. Uh just take my son, for example. He used to work in the state-owned company, and uh then I asked him to quit the job and to join my homestay operation. I said, wow, you have experienced what kind of working style in the company, and then come back. Uh join with me and help me help me with the operation. Yes, that's a kind of another experience, right? So um I try to offer the experience. The experience is very, very important, I think.
SPEAKER_02I think that experiences are very important. My children for their Christmas gift, their their main gift is not something that's material that they can toss to the side. It's a gift of an experience, and each child gets their own experience that they share with their father and I that we do with them. So it could be concert or going on a weekend trip just with my husband and I.
Seasonal Experiences For Guests
SPEAKER_02So we feel very strongly about experiences because those create memories and those stay with you far longer than some toy or technology piece that will be tossed to the side in a couple of months. Is there a moment or a guest story that you've had over the last few years, um, since the beginning, that has reminded you or stopped you in your tracks to make you feel this is um a reminder of why I'm doing this. This is why it's my purpose to be here in this moment.
SPEAKER_03Always hold an epic attitude that is um I will live happier happy and healthy. Live happy and healthy. And also I hope I can offer such kind of attitude to my guest. And I hope everyone who comes to my homestay can live happy and healthy. I have a strong belief that I always treat everyone who comes to my homestay as the family member, just like today's dinner. I uh before the dinner I ask you um which one do you prefer? Do you want to treat you single or for a special dinner, or just uh invite you to come our table meal? Yes. And at that time you said, we want to join to the table meal. That's that's how you you see, right? What you see, a big table. All of the uh staff and the co-workers come together. We just sit there. It's not some formal meal, no, it's not formal. It's just like the normal family dinner. Yeah. Yeah. With all the people sit here and uh eat the delicious food and talk and communicate. One time a couple just lived in my home stay. And the husband just go out to go climbing, and the women just live here. And when I saw her, I say uh there are a lot of the red skin on her on her necks. And uh uh the women just said, Well, I I
Family Table And A Life Saved
SPEAKER_03I don't feel comfortable, maybe because uh last night I ate something uh wrong. And then when I saw this, I said, no, you uh you must go to the hospital. Maybe there's a kind of allergy. Uh and she said, Oh, it it doesn't matter when after when my husband comes back and then have a go. And I insisted on that. No, you must go there and I I can send you to the hospital. And so I drive her to the hospital maybe uh 15 minutes, and uh when we arrived at hospital, it is hard for her to breathe. You know, maybe there is something wrong with the throat because the strong uh effect of the allergy. So the doctor said, Well, you are so lucky because you uh come to hospital immediately. Yeah. So after that, this is an accident. Yeah. After that, the man thanks me so much because he said, Well, you saved my wife's life. Wow. Yeah. And um after when they come back to hometown, because they they lived in a coastal city, they sent me two boxes of the seafood for you know for appreciation. Yeah, very grateful.
SPEAKER_02That's very nice. Well, finally, I just want to say thank you so much for having me here. I this has been such a special treat, and I can't wait to return with my own family. Um, I think something special about traveling, and you mentioned that you come from a well-educated family, and so I assume that you've been able to travel or at least meet people from around the world, especially here with your home state. And um, you know, one thing is the same no matter the language, and we're all human, and um just trying to create our own best lives, and I love that when when we're brought together um in a way like this, even at dinner tonight, I thought that was very special. And so I'm very grateful for you welcoming me into your home. So thank you for that. And so the last question I ask everyone this question is Do you
Returning To The Spa And Presence
SPEAKER_02have a favorite quote or phrase or any words of wisdom that you would like to leave with um our viewers?
SPEAKER_03Actually, I I don't have any specific words or phrases to learn from books or some big guy or somebody. Yeah. Um I always follow my heart. I always follow my heart. And if you want me to say something that I may want to share my attitude. Be honest to others and uh do everything well. And also treat others kindly. That's exactly what I was looking for. Oh shit, hi Jim. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um that's what I meant by words of wisdom, how you live every day. So that's exactly the type of answer that I was seeking. And um I always ask everyone that because I think it's you you learn something from hearing every single person's answer. Everyone has something different. I love that.
SPEAKER_03I don't follow a big guy or me. Um of her friends always quotes the big words from Buddha, from yeah, yeah, yeah, different big guys. And uh uh she said, no, I I don't have such words. I just follow my heart. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I follow lots of big guys and big girls and whoever whoever is inspirational. Yeah, yeah. So thank you so much for taking time to talk to me tonight and
Small Gestures, Big Belonging
SPEAKER_02um and again for welcoming me here. I'm very, very grateful.
SPEAKER_03That's the gang show that you don't have to treat you as my family member. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Thank you. Thank you. What I experienced that afternoon ended up being one of the most unexpected parts of the trip. The herbal tea bath came first. And the water was really dark from the roots and leaves steeped into it. And as I mentioned, I was told to sit in it for a set amount of time and then step out for the exact same amount of time and just repeat that cycle a few times. It was like being in a really unique hot tub. Um, it did feel good and relaxing, but the problem that I struggled with was everything that was happening in my head. I kept shifting the towel and wondering how much time had passed and wondering if I was doing it right. Am I supposed to be in the water or out of the water? You know, how many times, how many rounds am I supposed to do? And I also caught myself wanting to just speed the whole thing up, but not because I wasn't enjoying it. It was just because I could not shut my mind down. And that's something that I struggle with on a daily basis back at home. After that, we did something that I have never done before called moxibustion. It's heated mugboard, which is held close to the skin. And it's like a big gourd that was put on my back. And it was really relaxing, and I actually almost fell asleep during this process. I was actually able to shut my mind down or slow my mind down to enjoy this moment. It was really interesting because it was really heavy on my back to
Follow Your Heart Wisdom
SPEAKER_02start with, but then it was weightless, and I could feel where the heat was traveling, and I realized I started paying attention to my body in a way I almost never do at home. It didn't feel like a treatment. It felt like I was being asked to stay present longer than I'm comfortable with. What stayed with me from that day wasn't anything that I could list on paper. It was this strange relief of realizing there was nothing else that I needed to do in that moment. No one was waiting on me, no one was asking anything of me. I was being checked on from time to time, but mostly I was left alone with my thoughts, noticing how often my mind reached for the next task before the one I was even in had even finished. It made me think about how many hours I spend reacting, replying, adjusting, moving forward, instead of just letting myself stay put for a while. And I think that we all struggle with that from time to time. During my time there, Jo Junbei also showed me around the little village as well. We walked over to see the bakery. Her son is in the process of opening. And later she brought me to another homestay she owns nearby. It was raining that day, and she insisted on holding the umbrella over my head the entire walk. I wanted to take it from her with Joanna translating, telling her that my mother would want the roles reversed, but she wouldn't let me. That's what my time there was like. There are a lot of small gestures, a lot of smiling and hugging among her and her staff, and it made me feel less like a guest and more like I belonged there.
Closing Reflections And Farewell
unknownMr.
SPEAKER_02Junbei's photographer captured photos from my time there, and I am sharing those along with my own footage. So if you are watching the YouTube version of this episode, you'll be able to see those there. After we finished recording, I wasn't thinking about the quote. Earlier that day, sitting in that tub longer than I wanted to, I kept noticing how hard it was for me to slow down. And she hadn't mentioned Buddha or a god or a famous author. She talked about being honest with people, doing her work carefully, treating others with kindness. This was something that was personal and not something memorized. And listening to her throughout the interview made the struggle that I had make sense. And somehow, that said more than anything that could have been scripted.
Share, Review, And Stay Connected
SPEAKER_02If this story stayed with you, I hope you'll pass it along to someone who might need a reminder to slow down. If you're listening in a podcast app, taking a moment to rate and review Voices of Inspiration really does help more people find these stories. You can find more episodes at Voices of Inspiration Podcast dot com, sign up for my newsletter at Amelia Old dot com, and I'll be sharing photos and videos from this visit at Amelia Old Official on social media.
