[Video provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Ashley Couch, a former flight attendant for Emirates Airline from the United States, has been learning martial arts in China for three years, which has reshaped her impressions of the country.

Couch's fascination with martial arts began in her childhood, sparked by the kung fu movies she watched. In 2019, she left her flight attendant position and came to China to pursue her kung fu journey. This decision not only fulfilled her personal passion but also transformed her understanding of rural life in China.

Ashley Couch does martial arts. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

She found that the villages were more modern than she had imagined and, in some cases, even more advanced than certain areas in the West, Couch said.

Couch is now an assistant to her martial arts teacher at a school in Juxian, Shandong province, which is welcoming more international martial arts learners. Through her work, she hopes to share her experiences and insights, helping more people around the world gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

Couch (right) and international martial arts learners. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]