People pose for a photo with black-head gulls at the the Yuantouzhu scenic area. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
Six expats from the United States, Bangladesh, Yemen, and other countries went on an exclusive tour of the cultural and scenic landscape of Wuxi in East China's Jiangsu province on Dec 2.
"This is the first time I came to wuxi and I enjoyed this lake tour especially," said Abdallah Faisal.
Their first stop on the tour was the Yuantouzhu scenic area, or Turtle Head Isle scenic area, a national 5A scenic spot on Taihu Lake, where they were not only welcomed by the breathtaking lake views but also by the black-head gulls wintering in the area.
Douglas Christopher Dueno (R) assists Mohammed Fadhl Mohammed Al-Zouba in taking photos at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
Douglas Christopher Dueno and Mohammed Fadhl Mohammed Al-Zouba, two photography enthusiasts, were so captivated by the black-head gulls that they were constantly taking pictures of them.
Mohammed Fadhl Mohammed Al-Zouba takes photos at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
At Huishan Ancient Town in Liangxi district, the visitors rode a cable car to the top of the Huishan Mountain where they enjoyed a bird's eye view of the mountain and the district.
Douglas Christopher Dueno takes pictures while people spray fallen ginkgo tree leaves at Huishan Ancient Town. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
Mohammed Fadhl Mohammed Al-Zouba said that he was excited to check the Wuxi Opera and learn about the differences between Beijing Opera and Wuxi Opera.
People are dressed like the roles in Wuxi Opera at the Wuxi Opera Art Center. [Photo provided to gowuxi.com]
The expats then tried their hands at doing some simple and classic gestures of Wuxi Opera while dressed in traditional costumes at the Wuxi Opera Art Center.
At their last stop of the tour, the guests admired hanfu, shot arrows, and had some tea and Chinese snacks at the Donglin Academy.
According to Douglas, Wuxi has managed to preserve its ancient culture and history despite developing at a rapid pace. He noted that though the city center is filled with modern buildings, there are also a wide array of ancient alleys and villages surrounding them.
