20/03/2026
It Starts with a Meal: The Power of Local Partners
Like so many of the incredible local partners that make up the core of a Hutong journey, our programs in western Sichuan began with a meal.
The rustic, stone-built, mountain villages of Wenchuan and Lixian counties make up an irreplaceable, and culturally important piece of our Land of Plenty program. A close friend of ours said, “you have to get up there. The food is unreal!”
So, up there we got. A friendship was made over country-style dinner of smoked ham, numbing-spicy sausages, boiled potatoes, fresh pumpkin, cornbread, and locally picked apples. From that friendship came many conversations, a walk through the village, sharing of Qiang culture, and the sparks of a future partnership.
In another village not so far away (albeit a much busier one with a lot going on), we were drawn into a family courtyard by the stunning hand-built stone walls, grapes hanging in the eaves, corn out dry, a host of decorative cacti, and a pair of warm smiling faces. We chatted, had that meal together; we explored. Questions were asked, stories were shared, and a partnership was sparked. Every single time we head up there, a smile meets a smile bread is broken, memories are made and shared.
Sichuan is one of our deepest and most storied destinations, the Qiang Village exploration an indelible part of if its magic. If I were asked what truly makes a Hutong program special, I’d say it’s access, earnestness, and depth of relationships. We care deeply about the partners we make, honor those relationships, and hope that in cultivating them, we can share these powerful memories and experiences with you too.
