I’m the first one to admit that learning Mandarin as a European-languaged person is extremely difficult but the tones are actually the least of my problems. My teacher also tortures me with it regularly and I’m actually grateful as it keeps me from developing bad habits.

Saying all this- being hard to learn makes it even more exciting to me and it’s extremely rewarding if one can speak some simple sentences and read some of the more common characters. And travelling China, most locals were extremely friendly, helpful and supportive with my limited language skills (with the exception maybe of Shanghai were everyone just speaks English). The most pleasant was actually Chengdu which is the reason I am now seriously planning to already return again next year and try some slightly less visited places.