最初いい印象がなかったけど実際に行ったら変わったって英語でなんて言うの？

"At first I didn't have a good impression, but when I actually went there, that changed."
"at first" 「最初」
"I didn't have a good impression" 「いい印象がなかった」
"when I actually went there" 「実際に行ったら」
"that changed" 「変わった」

"最初いい印象がなかったけど実際に行ったら変わった"
- I didn't have a good impression at first but that changed after I went.
- I didn't have a very good impression at first, but that changed when I actually went there.

中国へ旅行に行くまではいい印象があまりなかったけれど、実際に行ったら人がとても親切で優しくてテクノロジーも高度で、イメージが180度変わった
- I didn't have a good impression of China before I visited, but when I actually went there, the people were so kind and the technology was so advanced.
My image of China did a 180.
My image of China completely turned around.
My image of China completely changed.

こんにちは。
さまざまな言い方ができると思いますが、下記のような英語表現はいかがでしょうか：

I didn't have a good impression at first but that changed when I actually went there.
最初は良い印象がなかったけど、実際にそこに行ったら変わりました。

actually went で「実際に行った」と言えます。

ぜひ参考にしてください。