Yang Li. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Handy tips

Almost all of Yang Li's students are women and can be divided into three categories.

They learn the basics of how to keep a journal in a three-hour course that costs 190 yuan ($28).

The first group comprises people ages 27 to 35. They are the most eager to learn techniques, especially how to paint. They are interested because they like the handwork.

The other two groups are college students and young children. Some parents send their children to her classes because they want them to record their trips.

Here are some tips from Yang:

1. Collect odds and ends that you can use for your journal, ranging from boarding passes, tickets, maps and tourist guides. You can also visit a stationery shop to buy tape and stamps.

2. Use quality notebooks with thick paper that you can stick things on or paint on using watercolors.

3. Prepare before your trip, and write something about it. While traveling, you can use your free time to work on your journal by pasting things, and then add more details when you are back home.