Wuxi's Xinwu: Where tradition meets tomorrow

Kyaw Jaw Sine Marma, a Bangladeshi student from the Suzhou Campus of Renmin University of China, visits the Hongshan National Archeological Site Museum in Xinwu district, Wuxi. [Photo provided to wndonline.cn]

With the rapid motion of the high-speed train, I recalled a rhyme from my childhood, "Train is going, train is going, where is your destination?" My inner voice softly replied, Wuxi. The word itself felt like a promise, a new place waiting to be explored. As the landscape outside the window blurred into golden shades of autumn, I felt that familiar mix of excitement and nervousness that always comes when traveling somewhere new.

Arriving at the Wuxi Railway Station, I found myself surrounded by the quiet hum of travelers and the sound of announcements echoing in Mandarin, a language that still feels like a puzzle to me. My first little adventure began before I even reached my hotel. I had booked a ride through Didi, the local ride-sharing app, but finding the right pick-up spot turned out to be confusing. After a few calls and some polite apologies in my broken Chinese, two kind young policemen helped me find the way out. Their friendly smiles and a few English words eased my worry. Outside, a security guard, perhaps in his fifties, helped me spot my driver, a kind lady who greeted me warmly, understanding my confusion with patience and grace. That simple kindness would set the tone for the next two days in Xinwu, Wuxi.

My trip was part of a tour organized by China Daily and the Xinwu district government. I joined a group of young people from various countries and regions. I always enjoy being among young people, both because I am one myself and my professional work has long centered on the development of youth. That made this event especially meaningful to me.

Xinwu, to me, feels like a living verse, lined with green spaces, calm canals, golden paddy fields, beautiful green hills, and the sweet scent of osmanthus blossoms drifting through the autumn air. Every turn reveals a gentle balance between modern life and ancient memory. Standing high-rise buildings, and bridges arching gracefully over quiet waters. I have often said that China is a country of well-planned cities, and Wuxi's development reaffirmed that thought. The urban landscape seems to breathe with life, not just through its infrastructure but through the spirit of its people.