When I was a kid growing up in Suzhou, the city was well known for its rivers, classical gardens, and silk. Tourists came from the world to admire the ancient architecture and its rich history. I still remember the days I spent being a volunteer at the Suzhou City Wall Museum, where I met a friend from the United Kingdom who later became a pen friend of mine. Although the streets are narrow and the walls are mottled, this image has been deeply engraved in my memory.
Old suzhou
That was a time when life was slow, just as what is shown in the documentary 天工苏作 “The Magicial Craftmanship of Suzhou.” People would spend hours enjoying the snacks on small boats swinging along the rivers, spend afternoons listening to the storytellers, and spend days weaving embroidery. Once I led a foreign friend to visit the Suzhou Garden Museum, he was amazed by the rock-piling skills of ancient craftsmen. And he asked, “how much time will elapse just for building a garden?” I thought that would be happy life when alarms were not there.
But as I got older and Suzhou modernized, its image started to shift, especially in the past ten years. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about the ancient city and traditions anymore. Metros were built, skyscrapers raised straight from the ground, and people bought cars to substitute their bikes. They all made people’s life much faster and busier. Now, Suzhou was also home to many high-tech industries and a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Modern Suzhou
At first, I was skeptical of this new image. Actually, for a quite long time, I avoided the new image of Suzhou when others asked me about my hometown. I missed the quaint charm of the old Suzhou, and worried that the city was losing its identity. But as I started to explore the new developments, I realized that there was still plenty of history and culture to be found. It was just packaged in a more modern way. When I searched and summarized the news articles for Wednesday’s class, I was so surprised by the progress Suzhou made in the past few years. They show a dynamic, positive, and ever-improving pattern in which the cultures are embedded.
In some ways, the changing image of Suzhou has made it more accessible to a wider range of people. Nowadays, when I tell people I’m from Suzhou, I share both of the technological accomplishments and the rich history from the past. The city is no longer just a destination for tourists. Instead, it’s a place where anyone can find something to enjoy – that is the reason we say “better city, better life.” Whether you’re interested in exploring classical gardens or checking out the latest technologies, Suzhou has something to offer.
Of course, there are still moments when I miss the old Suzhou of my childhood. Ultimately, I am excited to see how the city continues to evolve and adapt. It may look different than it did, while Suzhou is still the same vibrant place that I have always known and loved.
