Zhengzhou–Nanjing–Wuxi–Shanghai: A Leisurely Road Trip Through High Summer!

They say travel is about going from a place you're tired of to a place someone else is tired of. But in truth, travel isn't just about the destination; more importantly, it's about the way you travel along the road. And a road trip is, to me, the most beautiful way to travel—bar none!

So this summer vacation, my family and I embarked on a spontaneous road trip—no meticulous planning, no elaborate itineraries. Inspired by Tanya Chua's song “Departure,” we took a different direction, set off from a new intersection, and took our child to see a different world. Perhaps the journey will be tiring and have its hardships, but novel things always brighten up life.

Zhengzhou [Zhengzhou East Station – Qianxi Plaza – Erqi Tower – Kisho Kurokawa Memorial Plaza] Nanjing [Avant-garde Bookstore – Hanbi Lou Hotel – Gaochun Old Street] Wuxi [Kowloon Bay Garden Rezen Hotel] Shanghai [The Bund – Songcheng Performing Arts Kingdom – Manxin Hotel] Return journey [Back to Zhengzhou]

A decade of rapid development has made the place we live both familiar and strange. Erqi Tower, Zhongyuan Tower, Olympic Sports Center, CBD's “Big Corn,” Kisho Kurokawa Memorial Hall... The once “Green City” has been replaced by towering skyscrapers, and each new landmark bears witness to the city’s historical development. Time flies, and youth is only a tail end. While we still have a young mindset, let's first explore this city we've grown tired of!

Every day it welcomes and sees off countless travelers. This is a place I often pass through on business trips. Time and again, I pass by, time and again I feel it; it's familiar, thus relatively dear. As soon as you exit the station, you see the Twin Towers, a landmark often photographed and a kind of first postcard of Zhengzhou.

From many rooftops in the city, you can see the whole of Zhengzhou. This is one of the spots with the most complete and expansive view. Those familiar ground-level buildings take on a different feel from a different angle. When the weather is good, the mountains of Xingyang are also in sight! The 388-meter-tall Zhongyuan Tower, currently the tallest all-steel structure in the world, is at this moment just a corner of Zhengzhou.

At 284 meters up, the wind blows chilly. As the sun sets, looking down upon Zhengzhou, you see forests of high-rises and bustling streets that represent the city's development in recent years. This little city that belongs to me carries so much beauty, and it's striding rapidly toward internationalization...

The CBD is the best proof of the city's development. Every major city has a beautiful and bustling CBD. Qianxi Plaza, known as the “tallest building in the Central Plains,” stands in the center of the Zhengdong New District CBD and has rightly become the landmark here. At night, from a distance, it's entirely yellow, shaped like a “big corn cob.”

Spending leisure time here is indeed a nice choice. Not just tourists, but locals also treat this as a recreational spot. Clean lake water, modern high-rises, and large green spaces all exude the air of a metropolis!

In the past, Zhengzhou was very small, and the Erqi Tower was very tall. When you climbed to the top, the city's edge met your eyes. Today, the Erqi Tower still stands in the bustling city center, surrounded by high-rises, but its 63-meter historical stature is unmatched. We've passed this place countless times, yet never climbed up. Perhaps that's what we call scenery right at our doorstep—taken for granted.

Kisho Kurokawa Memorial Plaza

The Zhengdong New District is Zhengzhou’s brightest calling card on the international stage, and its master planner is the world-famous architect Kisho Kurokawa. That's why on the North Dragon Lake in Zhengzhou, there is this public art center named after the designer—the Kisho Kurokawa Memorial Plaza.

With white as its keynote, the circular building sits on a large expanse of lush green meadow. Subtle touches of wood color add a modern artistic feel. Even when it's raining, many people come to take photos—truly, it's become a photo hotspot even before officially opening! The lawn is off-limits, but the concrete paths on the slopes offer good footing. Both the front and side are great for photography. Under different weather conditions, the combination of people and architecture gives a different feeling. Actually, besides the downtown area, there are many places to explore around Zhengzhou.

There are many reasons to travel: for unique scenery, for rich cultural history, and for the delightful dance of taste buds. The flavor of a place is always inextricably linked to its cuisine. The legends of the Central Plains are not only about millennia-old unchanging history, but also about the various Henan delicacies born and raised here.

Zhengzhou stewed noodles are a noodle dish that most people can accept and love. Compared to what you might have tried in other cities, the authentic taste lies in Heji, Xiaoji stewed noodles, as well as Yufengyuan and Sanchang stewed noodles in the western suburbs.

Fang Zhongshan Spicy Soup is also a popular breakfast spot for Zhengzhou locals. The premium spicy soup, paired with fried dough and beef patties, makes getting out of bed seem much more motivating...

Banu Hotpot is also a great recommendation for out-of-town friends. Out of all the hotpot places in the world, there aren't many where you can try Banu. Since you're in Zhengzhou, why not give it a try? The service and flavor are no worse than Haidilao, and of course the price isn't much different either~

In fact, most Henan cuisine blends the characteristics of various regional cuisines from all over, making it the least distinctive. Yet this very quality satisfies people from all regions. Besides the recommended dishes, those seemingly plain home-style dishes also have a delightful taste worth savoring slowly.

A day of highway driving leaves behind not just fatigue, but also the exhilaration of breaking away! Actually, all cities are much the same; some people want to come in, some want to leave. I still remember that bookstore I visited many years ago—quiet, beautiful.

The faint music, the slowly rotating ceiling fan, the sofas everywhere, the posters full of “independent” spirit, and from not far away, the faint aroma of coffee... These things that seem out of place in a bookstore, when combined, became the “Avant-garde Bookstore.” This cultural landmark that Nanjing people are proud of successfully transformed around 2008 into a literary venue recognized by both scholars and the “bourgeois” crowd.

Every book is a story; every bookstore is a world. Flanked by greenery, I walked down the slope to the entrance. The shelves at the door stood quietly, welcoming every customer.

Upon entering, what greets you is not rows of books, but a whole row of various postcards—hand-drawn, printed, black and white, color, landscapes, portraits, all kinds.

If time allowed, I would gladly spend a whole day here, or greedily take all these books away... But at this moment, I can only capture these photographs and keep them in my memory. I finally fully understand the regret of being a fleeting passerby. Further inside, there is a long corridor... various books neatly arranged. The owner's thoughtful layout fills every corner with an artistic atmosphere.

A jumble of orderly hemp ropes forms a decorative wall. Postcards clipped to the ropes and tickets from various places heading here... Some bear words of longing, some sorrow, or pledges and happiness.

For a moment, I almost thought this wasn't a bookstore. Yes! It's not just a bookstore, because here I find all the literary things I love... I love such a place full of love. I love the handicrafts. The crafts displayed in rows are full of warmth and tenderness. It seems not just a bookstore, but a spiritual anchor for many.

Everywhere you go, you encounter foreign friends who don't shy away from the camera and give you a big smile. Following the alleys, feeling a touch of persistence, you take away a book, some photos, and some postcards without addresses. A bookstore is not just a place for book trading, but a spiritual longing.

Travel is always rushed, and a day on the road always brings a bit of fatigue. A good hotel is the most important choice in travel. This time I chose to stay again at Hanbi Lou Hotel in Nanjing, letting my family experience its comfort! It's a hotel that helps me calm down. When I first encountered Hanbi Lou Nanjing, I fell in love with its laid-back life!

In the morning, there's a leisurely breakfast that can be ordered to your room. At sunset, there's afternoon tea time on the lawn. At night, with the special turndown service, a sip of red wine, and a soak in the bath, the whole day passes in physical and spiritual enjoyment...

I really like the architectural design of Hanbi Lou Nanjing. With a central axis as the main theme, it blends water features and bamboo groves. The courtyard water-scape created by the enclosed buildings is Zen-like and comfortable, reminiscent of the beauty of Chinese gardens.

The lobby bar, the book bar, the gym, and other public areas all have notable aesthetics! Guest rooms offer endless river views. The first moment you enter the room, you feel a sense of wide openness. Sitting by the panoramic window, sipping tea, basking in the sun, or standing on the balcony feeling the river breeze—what a delight. This is the life of a true hotel retreat.

Besides comfortable rooms and bedding, eating well lifts your mood! I experienced all the restaurants at Hanbi Lou Nanjing. The sumptuous buffet, the super delicious Chinese cuisine, and the exquisite Western dishes—none of them disappoint!

Leisurely moments, gentle breeze, light rain—this is my impression of Gaochun. Located south of Nanjing, it's known as Nanjing's backyard and southern gateway, and is the first “International Slow City” in China awarded by the World Slow City Alliance. On a whim, we drove from Nanjing into this small town, and all along the way, fresh greenery greeted us.

A wonderful journey is never complete without good food. Huajiantang is a well-known inn in Gaochun, and its cuisine is very distinctive. Moreover, its location is very convenient—right across from Gaochun Old Street. So this restaurant with its literary inn style kicked off our new day of travel.

The rain in Jiangnan is gentle and lingering, never abrupt. Before it comes, there's always a long advance notice, giving people time to prepare umbrellas. Once pedestrians have their umbrellas up, the pitter-pattering rain begins its long performance. It beats on the tiles, runs down the eaves, splashes onto new leaves, and then drips onto the umbrellas left outside by pedestrians. The drizzle outside is unhurried, and life on the street is leisurely.

When mentioning Jiangnan, people always picture such scenes: simple elegance in black and white, horse-head walls, small grey tiles. On the old street, beside the white walls and black tiles, a few early trees seem to grow right out of the walls, and the fine rain that nourishes all things also nourishes this beautiful picture. These images from memory are Huizhou, the lifelong obsession; the ancient towns with small bridges and flowing water. Yet they don't seem to have any connection with Gaochun Old Street. Before Gaochun, indeed there was none; after Gaochun, the rain of Jiangnan also fell on Zhenjiang.

The history and soul of a city are often concentrated in an ancient street. In this era where history and modernity blend, Gaochun Old Street has become the truest portrayal of the past. Some original residents still live here, and shop doors are still wooden planks fitted into the doorframe. After the rain, Gaochun Old Street gains a bit of dampness, but the street remains as clean as ever.

Following the stone-paved road deep into Gaochun Old Street, the Gaochun Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall located inside tells of Gaochun's changes through time, lifestyle features, language and culture, etc. After visiting, a vivid Gaochun involuntarily springs to life in the mind!

Gaochun lies between Jiangsu and Anhui, and local opera is mainly Xi Opera. Xi Opera, formerly known as Tanhuang, is a major branch of storytelling art in the Jiangsu–Zhejiang region, originating from ancient Wu songs. Its main forms include mountain folk tunes, tanci, xuanjuan, and huagu tanhuang.

A region's waters and soil nurture its people. Dialect ties the hearts of rural people. Dialect is a mood, expressing simple emotions most genuinely... Dialect is a complex, expressing the truest attachment to one's hometown.

Gaochun cultural and historical expert Puyang Kangjing told me (Stone Jun) that the official name of Gaochun Old Street is actually “Zhongshan Avenue.” This street dates back to the Song Dynasty and was originally called “Zhengyi Street.” In the early Republic of China period, to commemorate Mr. Sun Yat-sen, it was renamed “Zhongshan Avenue,” which is still used today.

This door, that window, the stone memorial archway in front of the house—how much rain have they heard, and how many changes of years have they witnessed? Sunrises and sunsets, people come and go. Years later, in these century-old spots, they still draw attention, not for any other reason, but because they can't keep up with the march of the times. In this flashy society, it is precisely the old street that mysteriously attracts us to quietly visit.

The meaning of travel is to go to more places, to see more beautiful distant scenes—be it sunrise and sunset, or street corners and alleys, beyond nature, into life. Recording those images with a camera and pairing them with words completes a graceful journey. On the streets, in the lanes, the people living here carry on with their lives and their contented happiness.

Vacation in Wuxi: First Encounter with Rezen Hotel

Wuxi is a livable city. In the evening, we arrived at Kowloon Bay Garden Rezen Hotel. Passing through the hotel gate and a winding path, a large expanse of lake came into view. The darkening blue sky and warm yellow lights collided to form a beautiful scene!

Kowloon Bay Garden Rezen Hotel is nestled in the Jiulongwan valley of the Lianhua mountain range in Wuxi, covering over 400 mu of land with a total floor area of 27,000 square meters. Nestled by hills and water, with lush green lawns, it's a place especially suited for a relaxing holiday!

The enclosed guest room layout makes the hotel visually more spacious. The sightseeing elevator and casual tables and chairs add more leisure vibes to this corner! In the evening, light a mosquito coil, sit here and sip tea, the quiet time is also a nice pleasure.

Or tell stories to your child in the book bar next to the lobby, watch a movie with her, cast aside life's trivialities and fatigue, and fill the time with small anticipations and joy.

On this trip, we chose a family suite from various room types. The decor is warm and cozy, with bright yellow sheets that our baby loves. There's also a cute little tent; as soon as we entered, she crawled inside to play with modeling clay! The room thoughtfully includes many small toys. The bathroom has wet-dry separation, is spacious, and also comes with a children's toiletry kit, toilet seat, step stool, etc. Even the pajamas are cute little dinosaurs.

A child's happiness is really very simple~ I'm so glad we made time to bring her out this time, away from electronic devices, to experience the wonders of nature. A seven-spotted ladybug could keep her watching for a long while. The two or three days spent at Rezen Hotel were the most relaxed days of this trip—no itinerary of sightseeing, no busyness of leaving early and returning late, just staying in the hotel and enjoying every moment of vacation life!

As for the hotel's food at Huating Restaurant, I highly recommend it! It features local characteristics with creative twists on Wuxi cuisine. The taste is really good, and the ingredients are fresh. Over three days, both lunch and dinner were different every day, and both presentation and flavor were excellent!

Or in the evening, ask the hotel to set up a tent for free, sit in the breeze, drink tea and chat, and enjoy the holiday even more freely! Then have an outdoor barbecue; the stove is free, and the ingredients cost just over a hundred yuan—what a bargain! It's hard to believe a resort hotel can offer dining at such affordable prices!

Nearby Attractions

In the early morning, accompanied by the fragrance of flowers and plants, jogging, yoga, and flower viewing in this natural oxygen bar are all part of the Garden Rezen Hotel's vacation mode! In the afternoon, you can accompany family and friends picking in the fields, sipping tea in the courtyard, or watching the most beautiful sunset by the lake!

You can also go to the Flower Planet in the Kowloon Bay Flower Town to enjoy flowers and watch a light show! There are thousands of species and hundreds of thousands of plants that bloom all year round there. The light show is a special program held during the summer vacation!

Let Loose in Shanghai

I've been to Shanghai more than once, and each time it's a different feeling. This place called the Magic City carries many people's dreams, but for me, it's just a city to see and then leave. With that mindset, I can play even more wildly.

The Bund is still brilliantly lit. On the busy streets, passersby come and go; they may be fleeting tourists like me, or Shanghainese who have been struggling here for years, whether settled or not... But in our eyes, there is only this cityscape that has been photographed countless times by photographers.

Magic City Shanghai: Checking Out the Long-Awaited Performing Arts Park

Shanghai Songcheng Performing Arts Kingdom is different from previous “The Romance of the Song Dynasty” scenic areas. Located in the Expo Park along the Huangpu River, the entire building has six floors, each with different surprises! Many indoor shows also add a touch of coolness to summer outings, making it a must-visit spot in Shanghai.

On the sixth floor's Sky Street, there is a dazzling array of creative items, and you can also feel the magical power of crystal balls here! The dozen or so minutes of performance on stage represent years of practice offstage... The fun of the flash mob show makes many tourists stop. The free fantastic “Warfire” and “Ghost Ship” can also be experienced immersively! However, “Ghost Ship” is not recommended for children under 14, so I didn't go in—truly a case of 'faint-hearted, stay away!'

Of course, splashing in the water is also an essential summer activity at Songcheng. The outdoor activities such as magical ventriloquism, forest spirit birds, and magic bubbles are deeply loved by children, and every kid wants to get as close as possible...

This is a stunning performing arts park, and also a wonderful fairy tale kingdom. The Elf Valley on the 7th floor is a children's paradise, where they can listen to stories, watch magical light shows, and also climb and play on the slides...

Don't forget to watch a ballet performance on the rooftop terrace and listen to a symphony... From here, you can also directly overlook the Huangpu River scenery. In fact, when the lights come on at night, that's the most beautiful moment here! Unfortunately, for some reason we didn't stay until then, so we missed a dazzling night view of the Huangpu River. Next time, we'll come back to experience Shanghai's Eternal Love!

Speaking of “Eternal Love,” we should highlight the grand shows in the scenic area. Shanghai Songcheng Theater has three shows; the 399 ticket includes one show plus admission, while the other two require separate payment. Besides “The Romance of Shanghai,” the other two are the children's show “WA! Dinosaurs” and the dining show “Passionate Samba”!

Having watched many “Eternal Love” shows before, this time I naturally chose a special one—“Passionate Samba”! It was my first time watching a performance while dining; the 399 ticket even saved us dinner. Besides the visual feast, what's more important was the taste bud delight!

The entire show consists of many performances, bringing together actors from many countries, each entrance stunning! During the performance, time is set aside for each course, but this dining time is only approximate; it's very likely that just after a few bites, you'll have to hurriedly turn your eyes to watch the show!

Apart from the show, I must say the cuisine here, both in presentation and taste, is already worth the ticket price! The atmosphere is full, and the lighting on the plates makes you even hungrier! Salmon salad, mushroom soup, baby ribs, dessert... Just looking at these pictures again almost makes my mouth water...

“Passionate Samba” is highly recommended. Delicious food, a visual feast, an excellent experience—the 60-minute show is no less impressive than the previous “Eternal Love” theaters I've seen! Because I opted for the dining show, I didn't take my little girl to see “WA! Dinosaurs,” which she complained about. But after watching this show, she kept praising how beautiful the sisters' dances were~ Next time I have the chance, I'll take her to see “WA! Dinosaurs”; I'm sure she'll absolutely love it!

Note: The performances are rich and varied; be sure to keep the program list! This way you won't miss any wonderful moment! While having fun, don't forget sun protection when watching daytime outdoor performances! Tickets: 399 includes admission + any one of the three major shows (“The Romance of Shanghai,” dining show “Passionate Samba,” “WA! Dinosaurs”). 158 night ticket for Shanghai Songcheng (includes “The Earthquake” performance).

Shanghai Manxin Hotel

I first met Manxin at the Qianmen courtyard house in Beijing, and immediately fell for its design concept. Later I learned about the Suzhou branch. Now I'm in Shanghai again, and I like it just as much as before. Manxin life, slow down time...

I always thought that bustling traffic and vibrant noise were the main tone of Shanghai, but in fact, the flavor of old Shanghai is the very essence of this land. Manxin Hotel, like a touch of warmth, sits at a crossroads, retro, fresh, and elegantly understated...

The fully smart controls in the room provide a brand new experience—convenient, hassle-free, and fast—bringing a perfect end to this journey!

Life always needs some seasoning—it needs some slow, quiet, and worldly moments! To find a moment's rest for the weary soul; it also needs some ripples, seeking different, exciting, and challenging changes! An occasional off-road road trip is probably just a little flutter added to ordinary life...

Going from a place you're tired of to a place someone else is tired of, discovering different beauty, experiencing a different life, knowing yourself, and rediscovering your original heart—this is precisely a kind of life attitude, a positive life...