Back Pain Interrupts A British Wheelchair Tourist's Longji Rice Terraces Trip

In June 2024, Asia Odyssey Travel collaborated with a UK travel agency specializing in accessible tourism for a four-day Guilin tour. I was on-site.

On the first day of the trip, a light rain fell in Guilin, and the air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. I stood in the hotel lobby, watching the members of the UK tour group excitedly discuss their upcoming trip to the Longji Rice Terraces. Only David sat quietly on a corner sofa, his brow furrowed. As the person in charge of this accessible collaborative tour, I immediately sensed something was wrong.

Tourist Suffers Sudden Back Pain and Hospitalized

"Robert, my back..." David didn't finish his sentence before suddenly gasping for air, his face pale before flushing red, his whole body stiffening. I'd seen many sudden situations, but the paleness of his face at that moment still made my heart clench. I immediately called for an ambulance.

The ambulance siren cut through the quiet of Guilin's early morning. I sat on a plastic chair outside the emergency room, the smell of disinfectant filling the air. The other tourists continued their tour, and I began to re-plan David's itinerary.

I accompanied David into the hospital, acting as his full supporter. During the diagnosis, David trembled with pain. I held his hand and helped him through the CT scan. While the other tourists headed straight to the attractions, David was alone in the hospital. I understood his anxiety and vulnerability. I remembered David mentioning that his favorite drink was Coke. While he was sedated by medication, I went out and bought him one, along with some English food he liked. David perked up when he woke up and saw it. Familiar food was indeed the best comfort.

Live Video Tour of Longji Rice Terraces from Hospital Bed

"What do the Longji Rice Terraces look like now?" David suddenly asked the next morning, looking out the window. Seeing the disappointment flash in his eyes, I sent a message to the local guide who was accompanying the tour at the Longji Rice Terraces.

Two hours later, as sunlight streamed through the curtains onto the hospital bed, I handed my phone to David. A live video call was in progress.

On the screen were the layered rice terraces, appearing like a thousand mirrors reflecting the blue sky after being irrigated by the rain. This beautiful scene was exactly what David had wanted to see. The guide held up the phone, the camera gently swaying with his steps, as if taking David through the paths between the fields.

"This is Ping'an Village. The path we're walking on now has 752 steps," the guide's voice came through, accompanied by the mountain breeze. "Do you see the old woman in the blue clothes on the left? She's 89 years old and still farming." David's fingers involuntarily touched the screen, as if entering the rice terraces far away from the hospital.

The guide specifically found a flat stone step to sit down, aiming the camera at the distant, mist-shrouded mountains. We watched the "sea of clouds live broadcast" quietly for ten minutes.

As the video tour of the rice terraces from his hospital bed neared its end, David's friends took turns encouraging him through the camera.

Returning to the Guilin Itinerary

On the third morning, the doctor removed the brace from David's back. He carefully sat up, his back no longer hurting. David decided to rejoin the remaining two days of the itinerary.

We decided to start his recovery with a gentle Li River Cruise. I contacted the boatman in advance and prepared a soft rattan chair with a backrest on the second deck. The cruise ship slowly left the pier, and the karst mountains on both banks appeared and disappeared in the mist. David leaned back in his chair, quietly admiring the winding river and the Chinese countryside scenery on the banks.

In Yangshuo's West Street, David moved through the bustling crowds in a wheelchair, savoring grilled fish at a local restaurant. "Different from the fish in England," he said, taking a large bite. In Reed Flute Cave, the lights inside illuminated David's face as he looked up intently at the stalactites.

About to board the return flight, I brought David another can of Coke. He took it in his hand and said to me, "Robert... thank you for your unwavering support when my back was hurting. You know, that kind of pain sometimes made me feel so small. Thank you so much for your care beyond your service, otherwise I wouldn't have recovered so quickly. Your Asia Odyssey Travel is very professional."

I still keep the photos in my phone, from the emergency room to the group photo after his recovery. Each one records this special journey.