Health Issues Impact Brazilian Couple's 10-Day Silk Road Trip

In February 2024, I hosted my first guests from South America. Antonio and Ana, a Brazilian couple, had a 10-day itinerary packed with Silk Road attractions they were eager to see, from the historical sites of Beijing to the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, the deserts of Dunhuang, and the Grape Valley in Turpan.

As their plane was about to arrive in Beijing from Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere, I glanced at the time, calculating that the couple would soon be deplaning. I double-checked their schedule, never expecting the planned timeline to be disrupted.

Food and Weather Lead to Acclimatization Sickness

Antonio and Ana were typical Brazilians - warm, outgoing, and full of curiosity about the Eastern culture of the Northern Hemisphere. However, just after getting off the plane, Antonio experienced severe acclimatization issues. Beijing's dry climate and dietary differences caused him to vomit and have diarrhea, leaving him so weak he couldn't leave the hotel.

When Ana messaged me, her tone was full of anxiety. I immediately contacted the local guide to buy medicine for Antonio and instructed the hotel to prepare bland food. Fortunately, after a day of rest and medication, Antonio's condition improved. The next day, he felt much better, and I repeatedly asked him if he wanted to continue with the remaining 10-day itinerary, as my priority was for them to return home healthy. Antonio firmly replied, "Claro (Of course)."

My worried heart was temporarily relieved, but as they began their Silk Road journey, one problem followed another.

Fainting Upon Arriving in Xi'an

Just after getting off the high-speed train from Beijing to Xi'an, Antonio suddenly turned pale, leaned against the wall, and swayed unsteadily. Before Ana could react, he fainted and fell to the ground.

I actively cooperated with the guide to call 120 (the emergency number) directly while comforting the panicked Ana. The ambulance arrived quickly.

The weather in Xi'an that day was sunny, but the Brazilian couple in the hospital had no mood to appreciate it. The hospital was bustling with people, and Ana sat worriedly on a bench outside the emergency room.

I kept in touch with Ana while getting updates through the guide, ensuring she wouldn't feel even more anxious due to the language barrier. The test results came back: Antonio had high blood pressure and dizziness due to the long flight. The doctor advised him to slow down his travel pace and avoid strenuous activities.

I stayed online all day, following up until they returned to their hotel late at night.

Recovering and Enjoying the Silk Road

Considering Antonio's physical condition, the guide and I quickly adjusted the remaining 10-day itinerary, slowing down the pace and adding more rest time.

During their two extra days in Xi'an, they didn't waste them. The guide took them to the Muslim Quarter, where they enjoyed the mild mutton stew, and they strolled leisurely in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square. Antonio's condition gradually improved, and after two days, he decided to continue his trip to Gansu and Xinjiang.

I prepared a comfortable vehicle and emergency medication in advance and communicated with the guide to monitor Antonio's condition at all times.

When they arrived in Zhangye, Gansu, Antonio had fully recovered his energy. Standing before the Rainbow Mountains (Danxia Landform), he was speechless by the colorful karst topography. Ana said it looked like a rainbow.

In Dunhuang, they rode camels through the Singing Sand Dunes and lay in the desert at night to watch the stars. Antonio smiled and said, "This is even more romantic than the beaches of Rio."

The murals of the Mogao Caves amazed them. The guide specially arranged a slower explanation pace so they could savor the stories behind each fresco. Ana later told me that the Apsaras murals reminded her of the Carnival in Brazil, with their flowing colors and vibrant energy.

The final leg of their journey was Turpan, where the Grape Valley and the Karez Irrigation System made Antonio completely forget his previous discomfort. They tasted fresh seedless white grapes under the trellises.

At the end of their trip, Ana left a long five-star review on TripAdvisor. She wrote, "Although our trip didn't start smoothly, it was thanks to the meticulous care of our travel consultant and guide that we were able to successfully complete our China journey."