Wuxi: A vibrant city that rewards the curious

Nanchang Street. [Photo/Owen Fishwick]

The city of Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province is at once an immense metropolis, a quaint ancient water town, a hub of high-tech industry and a cultural mine for the historically curious.

I stumbled across an opportunity in the city, located south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze, a few years back after turning down a job offer in Beijing, fearing that the capital was too vast and too polluted for me at that time. This hedged bet on Wuxi paid off in spades, as my experience in the city brought me cultural learning, a better understanding of China and ultimately, happiness.

Nanchang Street. [Photo/Owen Fishwick]

No longer in the city, but in Beijing, the place that I had feared before, I often reminisce of the experiences I had in Wuxi, such as seeing the scenery of Taihu Lake in spring, learning about religious worship at the giant Lingshan Buddha, or simply ordering a bowl of dried shrimp wontons from Luzhuangchaowangji – a chain of restaurants specializing in the local food.

For those curious about this city of 6 million people, especially those who may not have even heard of it, it is a quiet achiever and punches well above its weight. Its GDP for last year came in at 1.5 trillion yuan ($217 billion) – for comparison, its GDP is roughly the same size as the GDP of Serbia.

Nanchang Street. [Photo/Owen Fishwick]

Often seen in the shadow of its more famous neighbor Suzhou, Wuxi has equally impressive cultural offerings, from its quintessential summer evening walk along Nanchang Street, to the spectacle of the nearby Nanchan Temple. Not to be outdone on the walking front, for those wishing to push themselves a little further, a jaunt up Huishan Mountain at dawn is an oft-trekked path for locals.

For those with a historical bent, I recommend visiting the old house of local musician A Bing and learning about his life, or visiting one of the city's museums to learn the rich story of Wuxi's past, or even of the Grand Canal that runs through it.

Nanchang Street. [Photo/Owen Fishwick]

For me, all these things, and many more too long to list, are why the city of Wuxi holds a special place in my heart. I'm sure, in some way or another, it will play an important role in my future as well.

I won't spoil the rich history of the city for you here by going on and on about it. I'll leave it for you to come and discover Wuxi, and its 3,000-year history, for yourself. I'm sure you'll find it a truly rewarding experience. 

The author is a communications professional working in Beijing. [Photo/Owen Fishwick]

The author is a communications professional working in Beijing.

If you would like to share your Wuxi stories, then send us your writings at wuxiexpatstories@outlook.com.