The author boards a high-speed train heading to Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

As the National Day holiday approached, I, Spencer, had a difficult question to answer: Where would I like to travel?

It's not every day that a chance to travel, with consecutive days off, presents itself. The National Day holiday holds a unique opportunity for myself, as a foreigner, to explore what China has to offer. Having only been in China for one year, and having spent most of that year in Shanghai, I knew this was a perfect opportunity to spread my wings across the country. With so many different cities to explore, it became difficult for me to select just one.

Living near the Shanghai Railway Station, I had always needed a good reason to book a ticket and simply venture into the unknown. Wuxi was a name that I had heard of, however it was a city I knew very little about. After constantly searching the map and trying to find somewhere simple and convenient, I finally picked my location. The giant lake on the map seemed to be calling my name. As a Canadian, I had been fortunate enough to grow up on a lake of my own. Being so close to water has always made me feel at home. So, venturing off to Wuxi, although an unfamiliar city, felt very strangely like traveling back to my roots.

The author shows the snack he bought in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

Upon arriving in Wuxi, I instantly noticed the people and their attitudes. The city seemed to be a wonderful location, where most people were happy and friendly. As a foreigner in China, I am accustomed to people staring or asking for pictures. However, in Wuxi, I quickly found that people wanted to communicate and talk with me, to ask questions, and to get to know who I was and where I was from. Things continued developing, as I ventured further into the city, and ended up in Old Town.

Here, the city was booming with activity. The entire population seemed to be in this location, coming together to celebrate, explore and share food or drinks together. I quickly walked forward, and was absorbed into the chaos that surrounded me. The entire scene was swarming with activities. I had the chance to play cards with strangers, talk about life with shopkeepers, explore different types of food with waiters, and share my holidays with the locals around me. The longer I seemed to be in the area, the quicker I felt at home.

One of the highlights for me was traveling to a petting zoo, where multiple animals were being fed by the locals. Upon arriving, I immediately bought food to share with the deer, goats, llamas and other animals. One of the petting zookeepers saw me, and came up to greet me upon arrival. He was pulling with him a miniature pony, which he was eager to introduce me to. He informed me that this pony was also a foreigner, and that its home was overseas as well. We shared a quick laugh, after I asked him if the pony spoke English. After feeding the animal, I was able to continue speaking with the owner all about his city and how much I loved it.

The author feeds a goat in Wuxi. [Photo provided to en.wuxi.gov.cn]

Old Town offered many of the same types of interactions. Not only was I able to soak up much of the culture, but I was also able to see some of the traditional architecture. The buildings and the red lanterns hanging from them created a picturesque scene, like something from a movie. As thousands of people walked by, negotiating in shops and buying different foods, I was amazed by the vibrancy and energy of the city. Every interaction seemed to be driven by a unique celebration and tribute to an ancient city and culture, as if reviving the world of old. I was lost in the robustness of it all, absolutely amazed at how one location could be home to so many different activities.

My time in Wuxi came and went far too quickly. It was truly amazing to experience a world where I felt relaxed and comfortable, just like back in my hometown. At the end of the day, it dawned on me — it was never the food, the lake, or the surrounding scenery that had me reminiscing about home. It was the people. The way they interacted and were interested in showing off their great city.

Not only did Wuxi show me a new part of China, that I had never experienced before, but it showed me just how a beautiful city with beautiful people can truly feel just like home.

I am already looking forward to my next visit.

The author Spencer Ross, hailing from Canada, currently lives and works in Shanghai.