Alice and I in the Nanjing Museum on July 1, 2019

Throughout my time in Jiangsu Province, I have been able to experience a lot and learn from the experiences and also from the citizens of Jiangsu that I share my experiences with.  My time in Jiangsu provinces has always been spent in the capital city of Nanjing.  In Nanjing, I have been interning at Shangri-La Hotel and studying with Nanjing Institute of Tourism & Hospitality. My time in Nanjing has been highlighted with beautiful scenery, friendly people, and wonderful experiences.  Every day that I spend in Jiangsu’s capital city, I feel as if I am pursuing my dreams further than I ever have before.

Over the last 5 months in Nanjing, I have been able to see many breath-taking sights of the city.  I believe that Nanjing is one of the prettiest cities that anyone can visit in China. Both the bustling skyline of the modern metropolis and the quiet and quaint parks of the city’s natural areas bring so much joy and wonder to my heart. One of my favorite places to visit in Nanjing is XuanWu Lake Park.  In this park, I can find many wonders to look at and take some time to find peace in my busy life. 

In XuanWu Lake Park, I like to walk around the lake in the evening. In the light of dusk, the park comes to life in a brand new way.  Citizens from all over the city come to the park to share in each other’s company and unwind together after their long work day.  I love to watch the groups of dancing ladies rehearsing together each night.  Their bond of community is amazing to witness. They are in sync and look amazing when they move together.  I also like to see the laughing children in the park with their parents.  It is incredible to look at the skyline of Nanjing from the park and soak in the serenity of the city. XuanWu Lake Park brings so much joy to the citizens of Jiangsu’s capital.

Another place that I love to visit in Nanjing is just a few MTR stops past Xinjiekou and it is the Confucius Temple area, also known as Fuzimiao. There is so much to see and do in this area and I have a great time whenever I visit it.  I can always find my favorite food, xiaolongbao, when I take time to go to the Confucius Temple. Xiaolongbao is so delicious and it is a specialty from Jiangsu Province.  I think that sampling Jiangsu’s cuisine can be an exciting activity to do in Nanjing.  When I visit Fuzimiao, I think it is very exciting to look at the ancient style architecture of this area and bask in the beauty of ancient China while learning history. 

While Nanjing has many places that I love to visit, I think that people of Jiangsu help create incredible experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life. My colleagues in Shangri-La are so friendly and welcoming and embrace the beauty of Jiangsu. With their help, I have been exposed to many astounding scenic areas of Nanjing. My colleagues, Alice and Audrey, learned that I have a passion for history and museums so they took me to the Nanjing Museum. That is a day that I will never forget. They were very kind to share a new experience with me and I will always be grateful for that. It was so sweet that they remembered my passion for history and wanted to help me discover it in Jiangsu Province. 

My classmates (Ruby, Kelly, & Ryan) and I at Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum on May 19, 2019

Another experience that I will never forget is when my colleague, Anthony, helped my classmates and I explore a new park on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. We went to Stone City Ruins Park together. If Anthony had not shared with me this park, my classmates and I would have never visited it. In this park, we were able to explore and look at the beautiful sights of Nanjing’s history together. It was a very memorable day. My classmates and I were able to share this experience together thanks to the kindness of Anthony for suggesting a new location for us to visit.

My classmates and I also visited the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum together. It was an incredible day because we had no plans and just took time to explore the Purple Mountain Park.  We found our way to Sun Yat-Sen’s mausoleum and had the opportunity to discover more about China’s powerful history. But the most important outcome of the day was being able to spend time bonding with my classmates.

My experiences in Jiangsu Province have been limited to Nanjing but I am grateful for each one of them. Jiangsu Province has beautiful sights, delicious food, and friendly people and I am able to experience it all in the capital city. There is no feeling that feels as amazing as taking the MTR from the bustling hub of Xinjiekou and finding yourself in the relaxing forest environment of the Purple Mountain. Nanjing is a city unlike any other and Jiangsu Province is full of experiences for me to enjoy. I have had a true cultural experience in Jiangsu and it has been amazing.