Over the past two weeks, we asked you to share how you’re inspired by one of the world’s most ancient, most modern, and most diverse civilizations for our #MyChinaExperience Instagram challenge in with Cathay Pacific (IG: @cathaypacific). We want to thank our community member guest judges @anniefitzsimmons, @pketron and @twheat who helped us sift through over 1,500 entries, from metropolis skylines at dusk to night boat rides by lantern! We also want to thank all who participated and continue to inspire us with their creativity.

Congratulations to our honorable mentions (left to right, starting top-left): @sashaesloan, @salwazizou_, @marcscarioni, @k_mao, @meilinhyde, @jessdoesfun, @theonlymatttodd, @alex_in_ny, and @lucas1005!

Congratulations to our potential winner @ginacz who will be heading on a 10-day trip to China in September or October! Her winning photo and write-up are below:

This is a throwback to the incomparable experience of traveling in southwest China’s Guizhou province. Just shy of forty percent of the province’s population is composed of ethnic minorities, including the Miao, Dong, Bouyei, Geijia and many others. We went to the region in hope of seeing festivals.

This picture, taken at the Zhouxi Iusheng festival, shows why: people (especially young women performing dances) dress in their finest clothes, jewelry and adornments during these events, which have a strong undercurrent of marriage arrangements. Throw in some buffalo fights, horse racing and spicy-delicious street food; and you’ve got yourself a heck of a party.

Guizhou is a tough place to travel independently, and we had some struggles. But I developed a deep love for it and would love to go back.